Don't expect shops to stock RATs for weeks, Retail NZ warns
Friday, 25 February 2022
It will probably take weeks for shops to find and import rapid antigen tests for public sale, Retail NZ says.
In phase three of the Government's Omicron response, testing for the virus will rely on rapid antigen tests that take just 15 minutes to give a result, Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said on Thursday.
The Government expects the public will be able to purchase their own antigen tests – or RATs – from next month. Supervised RATs for those who are close contacts or symptomatic will remain free.
More than 5 million tests arrived in the country in 24 hours to Friday and 10 million will arrive over weekend, bringing total supply to 22 million by Monday, the Government said on Friday.
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* Covid-19 NZ: Less isolation and more RATs as Government moves to 'phase 3' of Omicron outbreak
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But they were not for public purchase, and will be shipped to community testing centres, GPs and pharmacies across New Zealand. Businesses that need them as part of the close contact exemption scheme can also access them.
Pharmacies and supermarkets were likely to stock the tests for public purchase first.
Retail NZ manager of public affairs Aimie Hines said her organisation was working with the Government to ensure access to RATs is wide.
“We would like to see a range of retailers offering RATs,” she said.
It would allow for a competitive price point and better access for not only the public, but for business owners who had not been able to import their own.
“One of the points is retailers need lead time to get tests into the country, which is two to three weeks away, because of freight and shipping delays,” she said.
Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield expected RATs to cost around $8 to $10 each.
'When rapid antigen tests become available through retail outlets that will be through private suppliers, they will determine the price,' he said.
'We've got a pretty good idea of what we think is a reasonable price, somewhere between $8 to $10 a test.'
A Countdown spokeswoman said the supermarket was still waiting for advice from the Government.
“But it has been something we’ve been looking at and preparing for.”
When asked if the supermarket chain had already purchased tests to sell, she said Countdown did not have anything to update.
Corporate affairs manager at Foodstuffs NZ Emma Wooster said her organisation welcomed the Government's announcement that businesses would be able to sell RATs.
Trade Me's head of trust and safety Lisa Kerr said it did not yet allow the sale of RATs.
“In the past week we have seen over 3400 searches for rapid antigen tests onsite, an increase of 492 per cent when compared with the week prior,” she said.
“In the next couple of weeks we will be looking at how we can help Kiwis access rapid antigen tests safely on our site when they are made available to the general public.”