New Cowes RAT distribution

Eligible Phillip Island residents can now access Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) from an annex to the Phillip Island Health Hub.
The new service started this week and is available to eligible community members from 9am-2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

RATs are not available from the Hub, on Church St, at other times and RATS will not be distributed for people to stockpile at home for future use.

BCH staff determine if community members are eligible for a RAT but generally they are if they: have symptoms; or are a confirmed contact of someone with COVID and require a rapid test on day one and day six; or are another contact such as a work, social or education contact, or a member of a high-risk industry surveillance group. 

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said testing was vital to reduce the spread of COVID as much as possible. 
“The earlier COVID is detected in a person, the sooner they can isolate and not interact with other people, and avoid spreading the virus to family and friends,” she said, adding 119 RATs were distributed from the Hub last week.
“It’s reassuring to see islanders taking advantage of this new service in order to limit the number of COVID cases on the Island and also on the mainland. 
“Rapid Antigen Tests have been in short supply until now and Bass Coast Health is pleased to be able to save islanders time and effort through this new service.” 

COVID symptoms include a runny nose, headache, fatigue, dry cough, fever and muscle pain.