Changes are being made to the way in which people test for COVID-19.
In a letter sent to schools in the K-grade 12, the Department of Health and Community Services is recommended two changes to the swabs throat to the testing protocols. Instead of just swabbing the inside of your nose, people are now being asked to swab their throat, cheeks, and nose.
The department says that rapid tests can reliably detect infectious cases of the Omicron using a combined oral-nasal sample because the virus the viral peaks first in the throat, cheeks and then the nose.
The department also says that people do not need to test for COVID-19 if they recently tested positive for the virus.
More rapid tests have been sent out to families through students in K- Grade 12 system over the last day or two. Families are being encouraged to share extra tests with others who require testing.