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Rapid Response Testing Team begins COVID-19 workplace testing

Friday, September 18, 2020
Rapid Response Testing Team begins COVID-19 workplace testing Bendigo Health's Rapid Response Testing Team conduct a COVID-19 saliva swab with a Bendigo police officer.
Bendigo Police Station is the first workplace involved in the voluntary testing program.

Bendigo Health’s Rapid Response Testing Team (RRTT) has begun voluntary testing for COVID-19 in workplaces throughout the region.

Bendigo Police Station is the first workplace involved in the Department of Health and Human Services-led pilot program.

Bendigo Health board chair Bob Cameron said the program involves voluntary saliva testing in co-operation with a nominated workplace.

“The aim is to test people who are not displaying any symptoms to quickly detect the virus if it is present so we are able to trace, contain and stop the spread,” he said.

“Police are in one of those occupations where they deal with a lot of people so they are more exposed than other sites,” he said.

Other potential workplaces where the RRTT could visit include meatworks and trucking companies, Mr Cameron said.

Staff members who take part in the voluntary testing are not required to isolate while awaiting their test result as they have no symptoms and there is no reason to believe they have COVID-19.

Test results will be sent to participants vis SMS, which could take up to 48 hours.