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COVID testing requirements have been slashed by national cabinet in an effort to ease pressure on the strained testing regime.
Key points:
- Up to 10 free rapid antigen tests will be made available for concession card holders over the next three months
- People with a positive RAT are no longer required to get a PCR test
- National cabinet agrees schools will resume as scheduled and remain open
People with a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) will no longer be required to get a PCR test, regular testing for truck drivers is being scrapped, and international arrivals will not be required to get multiple tests.
National cabinet has also agreed to provide up to 10 free rapid antigen tests for concession card holders over the next three months.
The subsidised tests will be available in the next fortnight.
There has been a shortage of the home-testing kits as COVID case numbers have risen and testing requirements have changed.
Free tests have been restricted to close contacts, people with symptoms, health care workers and aged care workers.
The federal government maintains that it will not provide RATs free for anyone wanting access to them.
Earlier today, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese criticised the proposal, which would see only concession card holders receive RATs.
Mr Albanese described the proposal as convoluted, saying tests should be freely available to everyone.
"It is very clear the simplest and most cost-efficient way is to make tests free and available," he said.
"It's clear that the costs of tests are dwarfed by the costs of inaction."
PM acknowledges 'frustrating' testing delays
The national cabinet decision comes as medical experts warned that long COVID-19 testing queues and wait times would continue for several more weeks, as pathology labs struggle with demand.
Mr Morrison said national cabinet was aware of the "incredibly frustrating and highly disruptive" delays to testing services. He attributed these delays to higher numbers of cases produced by the Omicron variant.
"With Omicron, as we know, as the Chief Medical Officer has said on a number of occasions now, this is a strain that is less severe but more contagious," he said.
"As a result, we are dealing with much higher levels of cases."
Mr Morrison warned Australians who were hoping to purchase their own tests that access to RATs at pharmacies and retailers would be constrained for several weeks as they await further supplies.
He said RATs would be available for free at testing centres, along with PCR tests, to ease pressure on labs.
But people should only go to get tested if they are unwell.
"If you are not symptomatic, and you are not a close contract, then there isn't a requirement for you to go and have that test," Mr Morrison said.
Schools to resume 'day one of term one'
Mr Morrison said national cabinet leaders also discussed the impact of rising case numbers on schools reopening this year.
He said all leaders agreed that they did not want schools opening and closing and causing disruptions.
He said schooling would resume as scheduled.
"The objective here is very clear and we are all very shared in our view that schools go back and stay back. On day one of term one," he said.
With vaccinations for children aged 5-11 to commence on January 10, COVID-19 taskforce commander John Frewen said the country had an adequate supply of vaccines to provide first doses to the 2.3 million children in that age bracket.
Lieutenant General Frewen said if parents were having trouble finding a spot for their child at their regular healthcare provider, they should seek out alternatives.
"I do encourage you to try a pharmacist or try a state and territory clinic as an alternative," he said.
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