“For our school it’s been fantastic,” Dr Burgis said. “It’s very simple,it takes a minute,then it gives a real sense of security to everybody. It’s not like getting the test in the car. It’s non-invasive.”
PLC in Croydon is triallingrapid antigen testing,a 10 to 15 minute form of COVID-19 testing that’s a key plank of the United Kingdom’s approach to keeping schools safe and one that is likely to form part of NSW’s reopening strategy,too.
Overseas,rapid antigen tests can be self-administered. But in Australia,the Therapeutic Goods Administration only allows them to be carried out by a qualified medical practitioner. Companies are using them to screen staff,but PLC is one of the few schools.
On Thursday,NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged wider use of the tests,saying she believes “antigen tests are the future” and at-home testing will become the norm.
“The federal authorities are actually looking at that as we speak,we’re looking forward to that because that will obviously assist us in the process,” Ms Berejiklian said,adding high rates of vaccination would lead to the pandemic being managed differently.
“Whether it is a home quarantine system or whether it is testing in certain settings,even at home.”