Updated.
March 26, 2020 17: 20:25
Over 178,000 COVID-19 tests have actually been performed in Australia and that number is growing rapidly by the day.
The Federal Government has regularly stated this testing rate– at roughly 557 tests per 100,000 people– is among the highest on the planet.
While the standard screening method is a throat and nasal swab, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced on Tuesday new finger-prick tests will quickly be rolled out within GP centers.
We asked the Department of Health and experts what these new “point-of-care” tests are, and how they vary from the swab tests, w