When & where in New South Wales can I report my rapid antigen positive test result

In NSW as at 8pm Monday, 10 January 2022 the COVID-19 test positivity rate was est. 24.06%. 

However, as total test numbers are no longer accurate due to the fact that during the Christmas-New Year period the NSW Government began to direct people to use a rapid antigen home-test kit to self-diagnose rather than attended a government or private testing centre and a significant number of persons appear to be following that direction even though NSW Health to date has no way of recoding the results of home-testing.

On 10 January the NSW government said that later in the week it will be allowing rapid antigen test (RAT) results to be voluntarily registered through the Service NSW app and these results will count towards the state's daily COVID-19 case tallies. Presumably at the same time giving access to whatever limited health services which remain available to those people required to isolate and self-manage their infection at home.

The Service NSW app can be installed at:

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/service-nsw-mobile-app

There is a growing suspicion that there could be almost 2 million cases of COVID-19 not included in NSW Health data due to Perrottett Government mismanagement of the pandemic public health response in the last three months of 2021

 

NSW recorded 23,131 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday, 3 January 2022, including 2 deaths.

There are currently 1,344 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 105 people in intensive care, 27 of whom require ventilation.

There were 83,376 COVID-19 tests recorded in the 24 hours up to 8pm and, the positivity rate¹ is being reported as 27.5% – up 7.72% on 1 January’s positivity percentage.

It is noted that the World Health Organisation considers that it requires a positivity rate under 5% for an epidemic to be considered controlled; and then, only when the community transmission rate had declined by at least 50% over a 3-week period since the latest peak, along with a continuous decline in the observed incidence of confirmed and probable cases, as well as five other criteria met.

Total number of active COVID-19 cases in the state is est. 157,873 men, women & children – including at least one baby under 12 months of age.

Of the 23,131 cases reported to 8pm last night, 4,602 are from South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 4,258 are from South Western Sydney LHD, 3,680 are from Western Sydney LHD, 2,969 are from Sydney LHD, 1,979 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 1,689 are from Hunter New England LHD, 927 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 703 are from Central Coast LHD, 525 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 485 are from Northern NSW LHD, 392 are from Mid North Coast LHD, 227 are from Murrumbidgee LHD, 150 are from Western NSW LHD, 124 are from Southern NSW LHD, three are from Far West LHD, two are in correctional settings and 416 are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

Adjunct Professor James Cook University, Alan Baxter, has aired the possibility that the under reporting of COVID-19 cases in NSW may represent “a little under 2 million” people.

To 8pm Monday, 3 January, 485 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the 7 local governments areas within the Northern NSW Local Health District:

Byron Shire – 156 cases across postcodes 2479, 2481, 2482, 2483;

Tweed Shire – 136 cases across postcodes 2483, 2484, 2485, 2486, 2487, 2488, 2489, 2490;

Ballina Shire – 101 cases across postcodes 2477, 2478;

Lismore City – 43 cases across postcodes 2472, 2480;

Clarence Valley – 33 cases across postcodes 2460, 2463, 2464, 2466;

Richmond Valley – 12 cases across postcodes 2469, 2470, 2471;

Kyogle Shire – 4 cases in postcode 2474.

TOTAL 485

There are currently 20 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with 4 of these in intensive care.

NOTES

1. Using Percent Positivity Calculation for Public Health Surveillance

CDC has a formula for calculating percent positivity of laboratory test results.

• Obtain the numerator — the number of positive SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) results.

• Obtain the denominator — the total number of SARS-CoV-2 NAAT test results, both positive and negative.

• Divide the numerator by the denominator.

• Multiply the result by 100 to obtain the percentage.

[https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/resources/calculating-percent-positivity.html]

Sources

• https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/2021-nsw-health.aspx

• https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/2022-nsw-health.aspx

• https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/blog/category/media-releases/

ACOSS call for Australian Dept. of Health to release more granular COVID-19 data & government to fully subsidise rapid antigen test kits for those living ion or below the poverty line

Echo, 31 December 2021:

When you can find rapid antigen tests (RAT), the cost is prohibitive for many people and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is calling on the Federal Government to provide free RATs for people who rely on social security payments.

President Peter McNamara said ACOSS are very concerned that people relying on income support payments just can’t afford $70 for a rapid antigen test (RAT) kit, leaving them unable to assess their risk from COVID-19 for themselves, their families and the community.

‘It is irresponsible and callous of the Federal Government to fail to make provision for up to three million people already struggling to survive below the poverty line. Especially when we have evidence that people living in the lowest socioeconomic groups have experienced almost four times as many COVID-19 deaths as people in the highest income group.

The people hardest hit

‘We know that the hardest hit by COVID-19 and all variants are people who are homeless, people with disabilities, First Nations people, especially those who live remotely, the elderly, single-parent households, people relying on JobSeeker ($45/day) and young people on Youth Allowance (just $36/day).

‘We need to prioritise these groups and the community sector that support them who are on the frontline, and who see and respond to this crisis first.’

Mr McNamara said there needs to be greater clarity of information from the NSW and Victorian governments on how people in these states can access free RATs as well. ‘It seems currently only registered aged care facilities are being supplied with free RATs.

‘The need for governments to keep all people safe from the virus is as pressing as it ever was. We know from ACOSS member organisations providing services on the ground that there are still certain areas and populations with low vaccination rates.

Ensuring everyone has equitable access to testing

‘Ultimately, the most effective way to protect all of us is to ensure everyone has equitable access to testing, vaccinations, including booster shots and other related health and hospital services.

‘Because of the extraordinary work of community-led health initiatives connecting with those hardest to reach, people who were hesitant about the vaccine, or who had struggled for access, are now better protected. We’ve started closing that gap in coverage rates.

Mr McNamara said the Federal Government needs to increase its investment in community-led health initiatives. ‘These are organisations working locally to inform people about the latest covid-19 developments, explain the benefits of the vaccine, arrange for them to have access to a jab, and checking on them afterwards. They are a vital complementary force to the mass vaccination clinics and GP hubs.

‘ACOSS also calls on the Department of Health to release more granular data about the infection rates, vaccination rates and death rates of at-risk groups such as those experiencing disadvantage. By knowing who is yet to be vaccinated and where they are, and their vulnerability to the virus, community-led health services can reach them and offer coverage.’

COVID-19 virus fragments detected in sewerage treatment plants at East Lismore, South Lismore and Byron Bay

 

NSW Health, media release, 18 September 2021:

Northern NSW Local Health District is urging people in the Lismore City and Byron Bay areas to get tested for COVID-19, after fragments of the virus were detected in samples from the East Lismore, South Lismore and Byron Bay sewage treatment plants.

The samples were collected on 15 September in East and South Lismore and 16 September in Byron Bay. The East Lismore treatment plant serves about 17,000 people, the South Lismore treatment plant serves about 15,500 people and the Byron Bay treatment plant serves around 9,000 people.

While there are no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Northern NSW Local Health District, these new detections are concerning and follow a detection at the Wardell treatment plant on 14 September.

Detections could indicate there are positive cases in the community who have not been tested. Detections can also be due to shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness and may no longer be infectious.

The detection could be due to someone in the area or someone who has since left the area, but we need everyone to remain vigilant and get tested at the first sign of even mild symptoms.....