West Australian households will be sent more free Rapid Antigen Test kits as the state prepares for an expected peak in COVID-19 cases as soon as this week.
Households must be registered to get the 10 extra tests after the overall program was increased by 10.5 million kits.
This will bring the total number of tests supplied to each of 650,000 registered households since the program began in February to 15.
“By providing free RATs to all Western Australians, we are able to ensure everyone is prepared for the wave of Omicron and best placed to stay safe and limit unnecessary spread of the virus,” Premier Mark McGowan said on Tuesday.
“The reporting of positive RATs is starting to outweigh the reporting of positive PCR tests and the provision of these free RATs will ensure people have them on hand as they need them – for ease and convenience.”
West Australians can also pick up free RATs at pop-up sites in public places in metropolitan and regional areas.
Some 500,000 tests will be handed out at train stations, major events, universities, TAFEs and shopping centres.
For remote communities, 74,000 tests will be distributed directly to households.
As well, every state MP will be given 1000 tests to give to constituents.
The Omicron variant is spreading through WA after it opened its borders to travellers earlier this month.
WA reported 4037 new cases on Monday, lifting the number of currently active cases to 25,775.
Most of the active cases are in the metropolitan area.
Some 109 people were in hospital, with one in intensive care.
A new 24-bed intensive care unit will open at Royal Perth Hospital on Wednesday to treat people infected with the virus.
AAP
