RATs ‘burned through’ supplies due to demand
Moving to phase 3 changed everything overnight for a Tokoroa Covid testing centre, and a week of high testing demand ‘‘burned through’’ its allocated supplies of rapid antigen tests.
Staffers employed a ‘‘kill them with kindness’’ approach despite facing some minor abuse from people who had lined up to be tested and missed out, and spotting some people trying to hoard the tests for future use.
Since rapid antigen tests (RATs) were introduced on Wednesday last week, South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services (SWPICS) was struggling to keep up with demand and had to close the centre early one day while stocks were replenished, chief executive Akarere Henry said.
‘‘We absolutely burned through our allocated supplies, but by Friday we got a little more savvy, so we had a continued supply.’’
Henry said staff had also found ways to identify people who were trying to take RATs home for future use, thereby denying their use for those who really needed them.
‘‘There are elements in any community where people might consider themselves more worthwhile, but we are not naive and thankfully there is only a small minority who have that expectation.
‘‘The more we are able to ensure those eligible for RATs have access to them, the greater the coverage in our community.’’
Henry said SWPICS runs a drive-through vaccination centre on Leith Pl in Tokoroa along with pop-up centres in Putā ruru, and operates a Covid-19 testing centre at its headquarters on Maraetai Lane in Tokoroa.
Its services are supported by the Raukawa Charitable Trust and South Waikato District Health Board.
‘‘There was very high demand last week, and everything literally changed for us overnight when the prime minister announced a move to phase 3 and changed the eligibility of those who could have access to those tests.
‘‘But we are back on track this week, and it’s actually easier for us to identify people who need a test – they must be symptomatic and be a household contact of a positive case.’’
‘‘The more we are able to ensure those eligible for RATs have access to them, the greater the coverage in our community.’’
Akarere Henry
She said the key to keeping everyone safe was to ‘‘kill them with kindness’’.
‘‘We maintain a high level of kindness, and we are so conscious of the heightened anxiety out there right now.’’
Henry said their approach to testing and vaccinations were based on what the community wanted so drive through testing and vaccination had been popular with locals as well as operating at times they could be more accessible, like after working hours and on weekends.
She had one final message for locals.
‘‘We care about our community.
‘‘We just want to serve. Be considerate of others and kind to our team, they are only following the guidelines.’’