There are no Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for Gympie residents within the region, the closest option is in the South Burnett region at the Cherbourg hospital.
There have been 7424 cases this year to date within Queensland according to Queensland Health statistics.
COVID-19 continues to pose a health risk in Australia and overseas and the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care strongly encourage wearing masks and being vaccinated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020 and a worldwide pandemic on 11 March 2020.
On 5 May 2023, the WHO Director-General announced that WHO no longer considered COVID-19 to be a PHEIC.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic declaration is still active.
A sunshine coast health spokesperson said, “Throughout the pandemic, Sunshine Coast Health provided Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to eligible people across the region.
“This program has now concluded following the most recent COVID-19 wave in the community.
“RATs are now readily available to purchase from local pharmacies, some supermarkets, and other retailers.
“We have distributed a significant number of free rapid antigen tests across our region, and would like to thank our frontline health workers for their hard work in keeping our communities safe.”
For Gympie residents wishing to access free RATs, the only options other than Cherbourg hospital are over 100km away including King St Community Health Centre at Caboolture, Esk Hospital and Laidley Hospital.
