Australia is running out of desperately needed coronavirus testing kits

Australia is rapidly running out of coronavirus testing kits, according to the country’s chief medical officer.

Professor Brendan Murphy said there was ‘extreme pressure’ on stocks in a letter publishes by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 

He urged GPs to exercise caution in overusing the tests and to only test people who really need it. 

‘Unfortunately, the extreme pressure on our personal protective equipment (PPE) stocks continues,’ he wrote.

 ‘The situation regarding pathology test kits, reagents and swabs is deteriorating rapidly, with kits no longer being available in some regions of the country.’ 

Australia is rapidly running out of coronavirus testing kits because so many people want to check if they have the deadly infection 

Professor Brendan Murphy sent a letter to general practitioners on Friday urging them to only test people who need it

‘Pathology collection centres have also experienced large backlogs in testing appointments in some parts of Australia, and emergency testing facilities have had to be established in some areas to ensure that urgent patients can get access to testing.

‘I am seeking your assistance in strictly applying the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) National Guidelines in deciding whether to refer a patient for a COVID-19 pathology test.’

Government guidelines state that people should only be tested for COVID-19 if they develop symptoms within 14 days of international travel, have been in contact with a confirmed case or have a fever or pneumonia. 

On Saturday, Professor Murphy said there ‘had been quite a run on the testing’.

He had added that there had been some temporary shortages in testing materials. 

Professor Murphy said people with ordinary cold-like symptoms should not go and get tested. 

‘We are focusing on testing on returned travellers or contacts of people who are symptomatic,’ he said.

‘We need to preserve the testing for those who need it.’  

Australia currently has 227 cases of coronavirus. Three people have died in Australia due to the deadly illness

DO YOU NEED TO BE TESTED FOR COVID-19?

You need to get tested for coronavirus if:

• Symptoms present within 14 days of international travel
• You have been in close or casual contact with a confirmed case – however this needs to be assessed with reasonable sensibility
• Fever symptoms 
• Respiratory infections 
• People with pneumonia and no other apparent cause 

 

 

At part of its coronavirus stimulus package the federal government announced that they would install 100 pop-up testing centres to help ease the burden on medical practices.

The aim of the clinics is to divert mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 away from hospitals and prevent its spread.

Each clinic is expected to see 75 patients a day for six months. 

Some clinics in South Australia have opened a drive-thru service to help ease the pressure on testing facilities.  

Australian Medical Association boss Dr Tony Barton said Australians need to take personal responsibility regarding testing. 

‘It’s clear that there is a significant amount of people who are being tested at the moment for no other reason than just fear, anxiety or personal interest,’ Dr Bartone told Guardian Australia.

The guidelines state you should only be tested for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms within 14 days of international travel or have been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus

‘The criteria that have been clearly outlined in the letter are in the interest of ensuring adequate supply at this crucial time while we’re facing  significant pressure on reagents and kits.

‘We are really running out and it undermines the ability to identify true cases. We can’t just be testing to relieve anxiety. We can’t just be relieving anxiety in a population with no contact with a confirmed case.’ 

Dr Bartone said resources need to be reserved for people who need it. 

There have been 227 cases of coronavirus recorded in Australia, including three people who have died.   

Australian Medical Association boss Dr Tony Barton said Australians need to take personal responsibility regarding testing

The World Health Organisation declared coronavirus a pandemic on Wednesday last week. 

A spokesman for the Department of Health told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The Australian health system is very well prepared and is supported by a world-class network of pathology laboratories, both public and private.

‘Given the global nature of a pandemic, from time to time it is anticipated that temporary shortages in global supply chains may occur.

‘The Australian Government is working very hard to expand testing capacity and to make sure enough laboratory consumables are secured to last throughout the outbreak.

‘It is also very important testing capacity is preserved by testing only being undertaken on people who meet the suspect case definition.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk