The new EasyNAT COVID-19 RNA Test has been approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
This is a new type of COVID self-testing kit which will be available in November.
The test detects the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and is similar to a PCR test.
The EASYNAT Test uses a nasal swab and a special battery-operated cassette, with results taking one hour.
The TGA describes the test as having very high sensitivity at over 95 percent, similar to the most sensitive rapid antigen tests.
Victorian Numbers
As of 7 October, across Victoria, over 92 percent of people aged five years and older, have now received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.
Over 74 percent of people aged 16 years and older have received three vaccine doses, with 38 per cent of those eligible, aged 30 years and older, having received a fourth dose.
9,230 COVID-19 cases have been recorded this week with 43 lives lost.
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Australia spent more than $1 billion building COVID-19 facilities
Australia has spent more than one billion dollars building COVID-19 facilities, all of which are now closed.
Victoria’s Mickleham facility cost over half a million dollars, while Western Australia’s Bullsbrook quarantine centre, reportedly cost four-hundred million dollars.
The Victorian government said the Mickleham facility remains an important asset, should there be a need for an appropriate quarantine facility in the future.
It may also be considered for other potential uses including emergency accommodation.
The Queensland facility will also remain available should the pandemic response settings change with alternate uses for the facility will be investigated.
Health Message: Face Masks
Face masks can stop or slow viruses spreading in the air when you talk, cough, sneeze and laugh.
They lower your chance of catching and spreading an airborne virus.
Mask wearing is strongly recommended if you are indoors in a public space or outside in a crowded place, where it’s not possible to physically distance.
People who are at risk of severe COVID illness are encouraged to wear a mask whenever in public.
Masks remain required in sensitive settings such as hospitals and care facilities, and if you are a close contact undertaking surveillance testing in an indoor space outside your home.
(Compiled by NEMBC Multilingual News Service, Victoria)
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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