Doctors warn over ditching COVID-19 RAT reporting
'It's going to be more difficult to respond' to the pandemic now NSW has scrapped mandatory reporting, says AMA NSW President Dr Michael Bonning
Scrapping the mandatory reporting of positive COVID-19 rapid antigen tests will make it harder for the public health system to deal with future outbreaks, the AMA has warned.
Both NSW and Victoria have ditched their reporting requirements, as all states and territories put an end to mandatory isolation laws on Friday.
AMA NSW president Dr Michael Bonning has called for the release of the health advice underpinning that decision and says removing the requirement to report a positive RAT will leave doctors in the dark about case numbers.
“Our ability to respond as a health system is entirely built on having access and knowing how many people have COVID-19,” Dr Bonning, a GP, told ABC News on Thursday.
