5 free fast antigen exams (RATs) can be provided to all South Australians over the subsequent 5 weeks, earlier than all drive-through PCR exams shut throughout the state.
SA Chief Public Well being Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier made the announcement this afternoon, saying COVID-19 circumstances had begun to plateau throughout the state.
However she stated it was too early to definitively say whether or not the state had hit the height of the present COVID-19 wave.
SA recorded precisely 9000 circumstances of the virus within the week from November 18 to 25, with 140 folks hospitalised, together with 11 in ICU.
There have been eight deaths of individuals with COVID-19 recorded throughout that point, in folks aged from their 40s to 90s.
Spurrier stated as much as half 1,000,000 RATs can be accessible at present RAT assortment factors for folks to gather without spending a dime till the top of the 12 months.
In the meantime, it should now not be free to get examined at a PCR website, until South Australians have a referral from a GP.
The state's drive-through PCR testing websites can even be wound down over the subsequent six weeks, with all to be completely closed by January 8.
Spurrier stated she would "really feel unhappy" when the final PCR website was closed.
"I like these drive-through websites," she stated.
"However in one other sense, it is a celebration that we have to this stage within the pandemic the place we do not want that pandemic response."
SA's determination to wind again COVID-19 testing comes as COVID-19 circumstances have jumped once more throughout a number of states up to now seven days, with Australia going through its fourth wave of the virus.
Collectively the nation has reported tens of 1000's of recent circumstances as we speak throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
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