More free RATs for schools
An additional 11.87 million rapid antigen tests (RATs) will be distributed in schools across WA.
This brings the total number of free RATs distributed to schools in the state to more than 20 million.
New COVID-19 sub-variants have led to the increase in infections and reinfections. In order to further support face-to-face learning and minimise disruptions to schooling, the government will again provide 20 free RATs for each student — as well as an allocation to all staff members.
Individual schools will provide more information to parents and carers on how to collect these once distributed.
The allocation complements other recommendations following National Cabinet to strongly encourage mask wearing indoors, which includes schools, to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Parents and carers are encouraged to reiterate to their children the importance of wearing a mask, good hand hygiene and to wear a mask themselves when visiting schools.
The allocation also supports the WA Free RAT Program, which has seen more than three million tests handed out through pop-ups at events, train stations and shopping centres in the past month alone.
The WA Free RAT Program provides convenient and easy COVID-19 testing and helps ease the cost of living pressures faced by the WA community, particularly families.
Early testing and isolation remains an important step in keeping vulnerable community members safe from COVID-19. Parents and carers should test their children and keep them home from school if they have symptoms.
Students who are close contacts can only attend school if they don’t have symptoms and return a daily negative RAT and must also wear a mask when they leave home (unless exempt, including children under 12 years of age).
“WA is the only state to hand out free rapid antigen tests to the public, and the WA Free RAT Program has been extremely successful, with millions of tests distributed,” said Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.
“Early testing and isolation remains an essential part in our COVID-19 strategy to keep vulnerable community members safe from COVID-19 and reducing case numbers.”
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