The Government has given the go-ahead for a pilot scheme that will allow businesses to use rapid antigen testing. Rapid antigen testing has to date not been approved to use in New Zealand beyond a small scheme at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital. The Government has been previously sceptical of rapid antigen testing, noting that it had poorer sensitivity than conventional testing and was inconsistent with the Government's elimination strategy. The Government also released its review into its Covid-19 testing, carried out by the Ministry of Health Covid-19 Testing Technical Advisory Group (TAG). It added that to prepare for rapid antigen testing, the Government needed to create a system that would help people to report positive test results.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 07, 2021 00:01 UTC