The Queensland government has secured 18 million rapid antigen tests (RATs) to be provided for free at public testing sites to people classified as close contacts. This includes 12 million at-home tests and almost 6 million point of care tests. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the supply would support new national protocols for close contacts and front-line workforces. “Global demand for rapid antigen test kits is significant,” Palaszczuk said on Monday. “Securing an extra 12 million at-home tests for Queensland will help us meet demand as we transition to the new nationally agreed isolation and testing requirements for close contacts. The additional supplies will arrive over coming weeks.” There will be a gradual shift to replace PCR testing with RATs for close contacts as supplies increase in line with the agreement on Dec. 30 at National Cabinet on a new definition for close contact. Close contacts will be required to …