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Modesty has its limits and on this anniversary of Australiaâs first COVID-19 case, itâs time to tell the story of how our scientists took a bold leading role, bringing the world with them, as the pandemic began.
For the first three months, through preparedness and agility, they were able to bestow a number of scientific gifts that would help the world manage COVID-19.
In early January 2020, there was increasing chatter in the global infectious disease community about an unusual âpneumoniaâ in Wuhan.
Edward Holmes, a renowned and somewhat rebellious virologist from the University of Sydney was the only Westerner working on this, with his Chinese colleagues.
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Several health experts are urging the Victorian government to embrace rapid antigen testing for coronavirus, arguing that the technology is cheap, improving in accuracy and could help keep borders open and strengthen hotel quarantine.
One leading Australian manufacturer of the 15-minute tests says the public health policy around the technology is “dogmatic and not flexible”, criticising the government for relying on lab-based pathology without proper consideration of other testing strategies being used overseas.
A volunteer takes a rapid antigen screening test in Barcelona in December.
Credit:AP
Rapid antigen tests are relatively inexpensive compared to the common PCR tests (the nasal and throat swabs), however, results are less accurate. A total of 19 rapid antigen tests have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.