‘Our health services were already compromised’: Australia’s regions struggle under Omicron’s weight

Staffing shortages and lack of access to Covid testing puts rural healthcare system under pressure

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Poor access to testing and long delays in receiving results are compounding the challenges faced by regional and rural communities amid the Omicron wave of Covid-19, health professionals and local representatives say.

Danica Leys, the chief executive of the Country Women's Association of New South Wales, said while there were shortages of rapid antigen tests in metropolitan areas, they were not available at all in regional areas, in her experience.

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