Half a million COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) will be handed out in South Australia over the next five weeks, ahead of drive-through PCR testing sites closing in January.
Exactly 9,000 new cases were reported over the past week in the state, but Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier would not say today that the peak of infections had been reached in the latest COVID-19 wave.
This week's cases are up from last week's 8,346 but the week-on-week increase is much smaller than it was early this month.
Professor Spurrier said the increase in cases was "really flattening off now" and "getting towards the peak".
But she said she would not say the peak had been reached until case numbers started going down.
"We were very hopeful that we'd be down the other side of the wave well before Christmas to mean that we can all enjoy a healthy Christmas," she said.
"But it's still important at the moment with those higher cases to think about wearing a mask when you're in indoor crowded places."
Eight people with COVID-19 died in South Australia this week, aged from their 40s to their 90s.
The free RATs will be available from community centres, emergency services and people living and working in supported residential facilities for people with a disability between now and the end of the year.
The packs of five will be available for everyone, not just concession holders as before.
Drive-through testing sites will close by January 8.
"Most of us will be absolutely fine using rapid antigen testing," Professor Spurrier said.
"The PCR testing is going to be much more focused on those who are more vulnerable to severe disease and that includes people over 70 and people with chronic health problems because they're the people that can access oral antivirals.
"So really the transition to rapid antigen test for the majority of people and making PCR still eligible for those who really need it is what we're looking to have achieved by early January."
From January 9, PCR tests will only be available through SA Pathology and private pathologists.
They will only be free with a GP referral.
