Delay in COVID-19 Test Results
Demand for Covid testing increased across the state since late December & the time it has taken for results to be returned has lengthened. This has meant that some people have received “Unsuitable” test results, due to the nasal swabs expiring before they could be tested or don’t have results. We are very sorry to those people who have been impacted by this. Unfortunately this is out of our control as the swabs are sent to pathology labs that are overwhelmed.
If you were tested because you had symptoms:

  • If it has been 7 full days since the onset of your symptoms, AND 3 full days since they have resolved, please exit isolation. If you had been Covid positive, you would have been allowed out of isolation.
  • Otherwise, please remain in isolation until it has been 7 full days since the onset of your symptoms, AND 3 full days since they have resolved.
  • If you have persistent symptoms, please seek another test. This can be through a testing clinic, or a home testing or “Rapid Antigen Test” kit (acknowledging that these are still difficult to find).

If you were tested because you were a household or household-like close contact of someone with Covid:

  • If you had developed symptoms, please follow the procedure for people with symptoms, as above.
  • If you had no symptoms, please undertake a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test (if available) and continue to isolate until you have your results.

If you have taken a “Rapid Antigen Test” and the result is positive, please isolate immediately and report to the Victorian Department of Health at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report. This is a mandatory requirement.