SYDNEY, July 15 (Xinhua) -- The government of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) announced it would provide free rapid antigen tests (RATs) for vulnerable residents, responding to the ending of a federal government scheme.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said on Friday the state government would ensure that no one would be left behind and support would continue throughout the winter.
"We are making sure those people who need it most get the help they need to help keep themselves and the community safe through winter by stepping in and providing free RATs," said Perrottet.
Under the program, concession card holders, including pensioners, disabled persons, and culturally diverse groups would have access to 10 rapid tests until the end of October.
"The NSW government has already been distributing free RATs to vulnerable communities, and we have the capacity to extend this to those still needing them through the federal government's program," said NSW Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors Mark Coure.
In January of this year the Australian government launched a program that gave access to 10 free rapid tests for concession card holders.
The scheme would not be extended beyond its July end date. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler defended the decision as "about the right time" for the program to end.
Australia is currently experiencing a national surge of COVID-19, in part due to the highly transmissible Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants. In NSW there are currently 2,027 people in hospital with the disease and 93 people have died with the disease in the state since Monday. ■