But state governments are yet to provide clarity on what this means for testing obligations. In NSW,it is an offence to not register a positive RAT on the Service NSW app or website,carrying a penalty of $1000. NSW Health also asks anyone with respiratory symptoms to have a COVID-19 test.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard toldTheSun-Herald that the issue of whether these testing rules and strong recommendations would remain after isolation requirements were scrapped was still “under review”.
“My preliminary view is that compulsory testing when an individual has symptoms makes sense,if only to ensure that the individual is connected to potential treatment such as antivirals,” he said.
However,he believed the “jury was out” as to whether this meant failing to report a positive result from a RAT should remain an offence.
“Actually making the report is,again,certainly helpful to connecting the COVID-positive individual to potential treatment and,very importantly,to allow[Chief Health Officer Kerry] Chant and her team to gather data on the progression of the pandemic,particularly regarding any new waves.”
A spokesperson for Service NSW confirmed people would still be able to register positive RATs when isolation ends.
However,the service will be down for scheduled maintenance (unrelated to the isolation rules) on Monday night. People who test positive during then should register their result on Tuesday.