Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asserted the government will not be making rapid antigen tests free, despite growing calls from the Labor government to make them available for everyone. Following widespread shortages of the rapid tests and large queues at PCR testing clinics across the country, the prime minister said the tests wouldn’t be…

A series of COVID-19 testing laboratories will progressively reopen from Jan. 4 after temporarily shutting down on Jan. 3 due to overwhelming demand in the Australian state of New South Wales. This comes after officials changed the definition of “close contacts” of confirmed cases and Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Dec. 30 outlined the government’s new…

Five Australian jurisdictions have agreed on a new definition for a COVID-19 “close contact,” which will relieve PCR testing clinics from overwhelming queues and help keep the economy running. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that from midnight of Dec. 31, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory will change their…

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has called for patience as the rollout of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests begins across the state. The government has lifted a ban on the widespread use of the tests, clearing the way for their sale in pharmacies and supermarkets. Until now they have only been used in certain sectors, including…

Australians will be eligible for a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine earlier after the nation’s immunisation body recommended a shorter time frame. Health Minister Greg Hunt announced on Friday that from Jan. 4, booster shots will be brought forward to four months after the second dose, from five months currently. Then from Jan. 31,…