Albany to receive free rapid antigen tests as Great Southern records 91 new COVID-19 cases on Monday

Free rapid antigen tests will be given away at pop-up locations in Albany from next week as the Great Southern region’s active COVID-19 case load surpassed 460 on Monday.

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson on Friday announced 500,000 free RATs would be handed out, with no registration needed, at community pop-up distribution points across WA in the coming weeks.

The initiative is part of the second phase of the State’s free RATs program with all WA households also eligible for 15 free testing kits.

Pop-ups are already open in Perth, with free RATs distributed at train stations, RAC arena and Optus Stadium at the weekend and set to be handed out at shopping centres and university campuses this week.

Free RATS will be distributed in regional locations including Albany, Broome, Geraldton and Bunbury from March 28, with pop-up locations to be confirmed.

The Great Southern region recorded 91 new local COVID cases on Monday amid 5566 new cases reported across WA in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday.

There were 465 active cases in total in the Great Southern on Monday, with WA’s overall active case load reaching 38,140.

There were 163 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Monday and four in intensive care.

It comes after the Great Southern region recorded 88 new local cases on Sunday and 82 on Saturday.

Saturday marked WA’s deadliest day of the pandemic so far after four people were reported to have died with COVID-19.

Three men, aged in their 40s, 60s and 90s, and a woman in her 60s died in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday.

The fourth death was historical and reported to WA Health on Saturday.

The locations of RAT distribution sites in Albany will be updated here.