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As South Australia continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases, the demand for at-home Rapid Antigen Tests (RATS) has skyrocketed.
However, as at-home tests slowly but surely become the new norm for asymptomatic individuals, finding a RAT to test for the virus is proving to be a challenge. Luckily, Melbourne-based software engineer Matt Hayward (Pipelabs) has found a solution to our problem, developing a nifty website that keeps track of pharmacies’ stock nationwide.
Find a RAT is the website South Australians need to bookmark. As RATS become the most sought after tool in town, locating a pharmacy, supermarket or stockiest with plenty of tests is crucial to beating the queues and avoid winding up disappointed.
To find a location or place that has stock of the at-home COVID-19 tests, simply jump on the website online or your phone and get searching. You’re able to type in a suburb, area or shopping destination and check out who’s selling what before jumping in your car.
To thank Hayward for his hard help curating the helpful map, visitors are also able to purchase a coffee or help the software developer with the server costs for the website! Move over toilet paper, Rapid Antigen Tests are the new COVID commodity.
During yesterday’s press conference, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall confirmed that the state had secured a total of 10 million RATS, set to be delivered in the following weeks and months. January 3 saw 250,000 RATS be delivered to SA as COVID-19 cases reached a record peak of 3,246 cases and 102 hospitalisations.
Speaking on the matter yesterday afternoon, Marshall said RATS are the best way for those not displaying symptoms to personally check themselves and aid in “freeing up resources”, easing the pressure of the health system currently being inundated with PCR testing requests. While RATS aren’t headed to become the new PCR test for close contacts in SA, they are helping those who are nervous about catching the virus self-monitor and those wishing to travel interstate find out they are COVID-free.
Remember, RATS are not meant to replace PCR tests for individuals displaying symptoms of COVID-19, and those with even the mildest of symptoms must seek out a clinical test.
Visit Find a Rat here.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek testing as soon as possible.
Find your nearest testing site at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDtesting.
More information is available at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing.
For more information visit https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/ or call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787.
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