The great RAT shortage?

Stuff reports:

Health experts say rapid antigen tests (RATs) will be a critical tool for managing Omicron in New Zealand, but the Government has yet to determine how they will be used.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed it has 3.5 million tests in the country and 20 million on order, which will arrive in batches over the next six months. …

The ministry’s website says self-test rapid antigen tests will be available for purchase “for the general public early in the new year”.

The ministry did not respond when asked how many tests New Zealand would need, according to modelling.

Public health expert Michael Baker said rapid antigen tests, which could be used at home, could confirm positive status among people with symptoms, if a rapid escalation of case numbers made access to traditional testing – PCR tests –and contact tracing too difficult.

In Australia, where case numbers had grown to just under 72,000 daily cases on Monday, some states will require a negative rapid antigen test for children to go to school.

In the US also we are seeing huge demand for RATs as people can’t wait days for a test result if it means 20% of your workforce isn’t at work.

I really hope we don’t muck around in stocking up with them, and making them easily available.