Illawarra pharmacies are fielding dozens of calls each day from people seeking COVID-19 rapid antigen tests - and they don't know when they'll get their next delivery.
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Kiama Pharmacy proprietor and Illawarra Pharmacist Association member Sean Kelly said his pharmacy was receiving 60 to 80 calls every day about the tests, and he had heard the same from others around the region.
"We can't have any certainty when there'll be any availability, which is a bit annoying," Mr Kelly said.
These tests were imported from overseas, he said, so there was a delay in receiving them.
Mr Kelly said the NSW government's move to obtain these tests and provide them free would put additional pressure on the supply chain.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said on Wednesday that the state had ordered 50 million tests in total.
The Woolworths website suggested there were test packs still available at some of its supermarkets in the Illawarra on Wednesday morning.
"We have a much larger order of stock on the way from our suppliers and expect the availability of kits to improve for our customers within the next week," a Woolworths spokesperson said.
There are purchase limits in place.
Meanwhile, Woolworths' online health and wellness business HealthyLife has had customers order hundreds of thousands of tests since November and still has stock available.
"Demand for rapid antigen testing kits more than doubled in the lead up to Christmas and has continued to increase in recent days," managing director Ananth Sarathy said.
Coles supermarkets also stock the tests and have put a limit of two packs per customer in place.
The Queensland government has announced that it will accept a negative rapid antigen test result from NSW travellers from January 1, which will ease the strain on PCR testing clinics but likely add to demand for the at-home test kits.
The NSW government urges people who are not symptomatic, do not live with a COVID case or are not directed by NSW Health to take a rapid antigen test, rather than a PCR test.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
