Urgent roll out of rapid testing in Australian schools after new modelling showed it would be crucial in containing a new Covid outbreak
- Rapid testing to be rolled out in school by next term
- Modelling shows rapid antigen testing will be crucial to containing outbreak
- Testing is better than 14-day quarantine in containing an outbreak
Federal health authorities are working urgently to roll out rapid antigen testing to schools, following new modelling recommending it be used in the event of an outbreak on a campus.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the commonwealth was moving quickly to secure large number of rapid tests for schools, particularly in eastern jurisdictions hard hit by COVID-19 cases.
It comes after new Doherty Institute modelling presented to national cabinet indicated rapid tests were as effective as 14-day quarantine in reducing COVID cases at schools should a student test positive.
'I have been working closely with colleagues in NSW, ACT and Victoria over the last few weeks to prepare for exactly the issues that have been faced, and that is a rapidly moving space,' Professor Kelly told ABC News on Tuesday.
Firbank Grammar student Holly Fletcher (right) receives a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test in Brighton, Melbourne, Australia, 14 October 2021.
'The Doherty Institute modelling is clear, there are some things we can do to prevent (school outbreaks) and respond in ways that have an important outcome, which is about keeping schools open and having kids at school.'
The institute's epidemiologist Jodie McVernon indicated widespread antigen testing at schools could be rolled out as early as the beginning of next year.
It comes as the chief medical officer indicated Pfizer vaccines for children as young as five could be approved by the end of the year.
Prof Kelly said the approval was imminent and medical regulators were going through the data.
Health experts have warned as adult vaccination rates surge, infections among young children not yet eligible for the COVID jab could rise.
'In the (five to 11-year-old) age group, even though the cases are in large numbers, it is a very small percentage of that age group that gets severe disease,' he said.
Of the estimated 40,000 children that have contracted the virus this year, about 0.1 per cent have had severe symptoms.
It comes as NSW recorded 222 new local cases on Tuesday, with four deaths, as the state approaches a 90 per cent fully vaccinated rate.
In Victoria there were 1069 infections reported and 10 deaths.
Meanwhile, the ACT will bring forward the easing of its last round of restrictions, which will see visitor limits scrapped, nightclubs reopen and density caps wound back.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palascczuk announced restrictions for fully vaccinated people would be scrapped once the state's vaccination rate hits 80 per cent double dosed.
More than 80 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older are double-dosed, while nearly 90 per cent have received one jab.
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