Blooms The Chemist at Royal Randwick shopping centre opened the clinic this morning in the underground carpark and so far nine businesses including a cafe, hairdresser and florist have signed up.The clinic, which has full TGA approval, is currently only open to businesses either located in the Randwick Council area or who have staff based here.It is expected the rapid antigen tests, performed by a nasal swab, may be offered to the general public from as early as next month.Businesses book in their employees who drive through for a test before work and are given a physical result card in just 10 minutes to show their employer.Owner and pharmacist Rohit Uppal said he was excited to be at the forefront of offering the rapid antigen testing which costs $25 each.His staff have been travelling to work sites and schools for the past month offering the same service.“Rapid antigen tests have been rolled out across the world – Europe, the US, UK and it’s the next step in the fight against Covid,” Mr Uppal said.“It’s an extra safeguard businesses can use to keep staff safe and keep the community safe too.“Especially leading up to Freedom Day, it’s imperative we do everything we can.”Mr Uppal said the testing was only available to non-symptomatic individuals with anyone feeling sick still required to get a traditional PCR test.However, he said non-symptomatic Covid cases were soon to escalate so rapid antigen testing would play an important role.“As vaccination numbers go up which is amazing … people with symptoms may go down which is even more reason to do the rapid antigen testing,” Mr Uppal said.“Say you have Covid but you’re double vaxxed so you have no symptoms. Then you go home and give it to your two children.”Anyone who gets a positive result is isolated by the registered nurses who run the clinic and directed to go to get a PCR test before going home to isolate.Mr Uppal is currently in discussions with Waverley and Woollahra councils as well as Bondi and Coogee chambers of commerce about opening further drive through services in the eastern suburbs.While the Randwick site is the first drive through clinic, businesses of any size can contact their local Blooms to arrange an on-site visit package for their staff.Businesses can book into the Randwick drive through clinic, which is open 6.30am to 9.30pm Monday to Saturday, HERE
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