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One of the first major trials of rapid COVID-19 testing in Australia has found fast results helped boost safety and confidence in an aged care home in Sydneyâs south-west, bolstering employee attendance during the cityâs delta outbreak.
The trial at the Whiddon Easton Park aged care campus in Glenfield is being closely watched by the federal and NSW governments and is expected to pave the way for more rapid testing in Australian workplaces.
A staff member at the Whiddon Easton Park aged care facility in Sydney undergoes a rapid test during the trial. Â
Rhett Wyman
About 450 aged care residents and 800 staff are based at Easton Park, with more than 30 per cent of workers living in three high-risk local government areas. Coming amid low rates of vaccinations in the aged care workforce, the trial found fast turnaround times increased confidence for residents, families and staff.
Sydney rapid COVID test trial to guide wider use afr.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from afr.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Rapid COVID-19 antigen tests are being trialled in south-west Sydney in a new bid to stay a step ahead of the virus.
The tests â that can be conducted and return results in just 10 minutes â are being reviewed by health authorities as a way to minimise the potential for super-spreading events.
Specialist Emergency Physician Dr Ian Norton said the tests add another layer of protection to the state s coronavirus response and could assist in avoiding future lockdowns.
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Dr Ian Norton on Weekend Today(9News) The most practical use is they are added on to the normal screening questions we would have at an essential business or at a hospital or ambulance service station, a police or fire station, anywhere were we need essential workers today in Sydney, he said on Weekend Today.
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