More than a thousand rapid antigen tests (RATs) a day are being distributed through two recently-opened COVID-19 testing stations supported by Pegasus Health. The new stations are at Wigram and Rangiora – and further
sites are planned in coming weeks as demand for testing continues to grow.
Pegasus Health Practice Relationships Team Leader, Craig Watson, said the organisation supported the establishment of the sites in Wigram (opened late February) and Rangiora (opened early March) to give people requiring a COVID-19 test more options; supplementing ones already operating on Orchard and Pages Roads.
He says the stations are now predominantly performing RATs, although the Wigram site does limited numbers of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
“Working with the DHB ECC Workforce Redeployment Team we are looking
to open more sites in coming weeks as demand continues to grow day-on-day. Already we are distributing several thousand RAT tests a day across
the four stations in Christchurch and North Canterbury (Wigram, Rangiora, Orchard Rd and Pages Rd).”
Ashburton’s long-running COVID-19 testing station recently moved from the hospital to a larger site in the former ACL Building on South Street.