Providing free rapid antigen tests to the public would be a better approach, in terms of economic impact, than the government’s implemented strategy according to health economists.
In the economic model released last Friday, a significant part of the population with asymptomatic covid-19 would self isolate thanks to the free tests which would then reduce the spread of the virus and minimise it’s impact on the economy.
The Flinders University economists claim the cost of providing free rapid antigen tests is less than the cost to the economy of the unmonitored transmission of the coronavirus.