From Monday 5 September, opening hours at State-run COVID-19 testing clinics in the metropolitan area will change due to declining demand for PCR tests and the increased availability of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) across Western Australia.
The new hours at public COVID clinics at Royal Perth Hospital, Joondalup Hospital, Rockingham Hospital and the PathWest Murdoch drive-through will be 8am – 4pm, 7 days a week.
PCR testing arrangements in regional areas remain unchanged.
From 1 October, a referral from a GP or other medical practitioner will be required to access PCR testing at clinics operated by private pathology providers.
With more RATs available to the community through the WA Free RAT Program, Western Australians are choosing RATs as the preferred COVID-19 testing option.
The WA Free RAT Program provides free RATs to the public at drive-through collection points, vaccination clinics, offices of Members of Parliament, and regional testing clinics. WA households are eligible for another 20 free nasal RATs at several locations in the Perth metropolitan area.
More than 57 million RATs have been distributed to the WA community, including more than 5 million through pop-ups across the State and 11.8 million to WA schools to support local families and teachers.
All Western Australians are encouraged to isolate and test using either a RAT or PCR if feeling unwell with COVID-like symptoms.
More information about the COVID-19 testing changes is available at HealthWA (external link).
