Tasmanians continue to scramble for rapid antigen tests

Tasmanians have continued to scramble to get their hands on rapid antigen tests across the state after a big change in testing rules.

The rush to find rapid antigen tests (RATs) across Tasmania has ramped up on Friday after the state government announced a big change in testing rules.

A line of customers were out the door at Chemist Warehouse Salamanca on Friday morning hoping to nab one of the test kits.

RATs have been made the primary diagnostic tool for Covid-19 in Tasmania instead of PCR tests as of Thursday, with plans to distribute them at post offices and airports shelved.

Jane Pelham was in the roughly 50m queue from 8.30am with her daughter Rosie Pelham.

Customers line up at Chemist Warehouse in Salamanca in search of rapid antigen tests (RAT). Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

She said the line moved quickly at the Montpellier Retreat site.

“We were in the queue for literally 10 minutes,” she said.

“We’ve got a family of five and even though none of us have symptoms at the moment I’ve got children that are still trying to live relatively normal lives.

“It’s great to have access to one if they get a symptom, for peace of mind.”

Ms Pelham said the tests were reasonably priced around the $10 mark.

People ducked through the rain into the Salamanca chemist up until 9.45am, when they sold out.

Chemist Warehouse could not confirm when RATs would be back in stock.

Melbourne man Trent Ellen left the chemist empty-handed.

Rosie Pelham, 13, of Hobart with tests her family purchased. People lined up from early morning at Chemist Warehouse in Salamanca to try and purchase a RAT test. They were sold out by around 9.45am with no further stock till at least Monday. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

He had experienced “heaps of trouble” locating a RAT.

“We’re actually heading home and just thought we’d do the right thing and get a RAT test before we jump on a plane,” he said.

“We’ve been looking for the past couple of days, we just didn’t know what to do so we came down this morning when we heard there might be a few.”

Mr Ellen hoped to try several other chemists.

“If not we’d probably actually head up to the North West where my partner’s family is from and see if Devonport or Launceston has any,” he said.

Mr Ellen was planning to travel back to Melbourne on Saturday.

Trent Ellen from Melbourne hoping to buy a test before he travels home tomorrow. They were sold out by the time he arrived. People lined up from early morning at Chemist Warehouse in Salamanca to try and purchase a RAT test. They were sold out by around 9.45am with no further stock till at least Monday. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We’ll monitor symptoms and the family is trying to search for some more RATs up their end as well,” he said.

“Fingers crossed we’ll get our hands on some but it kind of puts us in a strange situation where we don’t want to infect an entire plane, and we don’t really have anywhere to go down here if we are positive.

“We’re kind of in limbo at the moment but we’ll push on and see what we can do.”

Meanwhile, Chemist Warehouse at New Town sold out of RATs in minutes.

They had just 250 available.

“The queue was so long it stretched down to the Coles supermarket,” a staff member said.

It is uncertain when more tests will be available, as the state says more RAT supplies are arriving over coming weeks.

Premier Peter Gutwein said on Thursday Tasmanians who test positive to a RAT will now have to register their results with Public Health – either by phone or online from 7pm on Thursday.

Covid update with Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“People who already have a positive RAT result in recent days will be able to use this registration mechanism to identify themselves as a case and to obtain assistance,” he said.

“This will ensure you can access assistance from Public Health Services and the COVID@home team during your illness if required.

“Proof of registration of your result will also be used for financial assistance requests and leave applications if you are an employee.

“Anyone that registers a positive RAT result will receive the same support and care as if you tested positive on a PCR test, but you must register your RAT so that we can identify you and record your case.”