At least three out of four pharmacies in Greater Shepparton were sold out of rapid antigen tests (RAT) on Thursday morning, after a huge surge in demand before the holiday period.
Family Care Pharmacy Shepparton pharmacist Cristina Sison said RAT sales spiked about a week ago, with most customers looking to buy the DIY swabs before leaving town for a holiday.
“It’s mostly people going interstate asking if we have it in stock,” she said.
“Only a few people are coming because they think they have COVID and they couldn’t be bothered going to get a PCR test.”
Of 12 pharmacies in Kialla, Mooroopna and Shepparton contacted on Thursday morning, only three had dwindling stock left on the shelves, which was expected to sell out by lunchtime.
At Reid’s Pharmacy in Shepparton it took less than two hours for all but one five-pack from a fresh order of RATs to sell, with several customers calling ahead and asking to have a packet set aside.
Indigenous Medical Supplies managing director Mervyn Fernando sells RATs to wholesale customers from his Mooroopna office.
In recent days, Mr Fernando and IMS customer service manager Kim Watkins have been fielding calls from retail customers desperate to get hold of a handful of the rapid tests.
“I had to advise them to try a different route if they were looking to test themselves for a couple of days,” Mr Fernando said.
“There’s a gap there for general consumers and I don’t know how they’re going to fill it ... I don’t see the three- or five-packs readily available in retail.”
Some pharmacies have fresh stock on back order, while others are expecting a delivery any day now.
At Family Care Pharmacy Shepparton, Mrs Sison said two-packs were available to order from her suppliers but five-packs were harder to come by.
None of the states and territories that require travellers to produce a negative test result prior to entry currently accept rapid antigen test results as evidence.
Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory require travellers from Victoria to complete a PCR test and receive a negative test result within 72 hours prior to crossing the border.
Every person arriving at an airport in the NT will be provided with a free RAT to use at their discretion, in case they develop symptoms “and to provide peace of mind” according to the NT Government’s website.
Tasmania does not require travellers to be tested or quarantine if they come from low-risk areas, which currently includes Greater Shepparton.
No test is required for Victorians to enter NSW or the Australian Capital Territory, except for those who have been identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case.
The Western Australia border remains closed except to those interstate travellers who have an approved permit, all of whom must undergo self-quarantine or hotel quarantine depending on their circumstances.
