Role of testing for the COVID-19 response in Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and regional populations
David SpeersDepartment of Microbiology, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA; Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia; and School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia. Email: David.Speers@health.wa.gov.au
Microbiology Australia 42(1) 23-26 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA21007
Submitted: 15 February 2021 Accepted: 2 March 2021 Published: 12 April 2021
Journal Compilation © The Authors 2021 Open Access CC BY, published (by CSIRO Publishing) on behalf of the ASM
Abstract
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and despite isolation remote communities have an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission due to overcrowding and frequent travel over long distances for family, cultural or community events. The response to an outbreak in remote settings will be logistically challenging requiring a coordinated multiagency response. The provision of timely COVID-19 diagnostic testing is central to this response.
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