THE public can now access rapid antigen test (RAT) kits via the Wangaratta Screening Clinic off Vincent Road, but they must either be a close contact of a positive case or have COVID–19 symptoms to qualify.

Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) this week received "an adequate amount" of RATs to cater for people requiring a test after several weeks of the kits being non–available locally.

Active COVID–19 cases in Wangaratta were 403 on Tuesday and with the renewed supply of testing kits this number is expected to grow quickly.

NHW acting chief executive officer, Robyn Gillis, said the RATs are strictly only available to those who need them, a close contact or symptomatic people.

"It wouldn't be surprising that now we have RATs we will see an increase in the number of confirmed infections as they haven't been able to test as readily," she told the Wangaratta Chronicle yesterday.

"It's important that people register before they get to the drive through testing clinic and please don't come if you don't need a test.

"When people come to the clinic we will give them two rapid antigen tests, one to take that day and a second one to clear your status at the end of isolation."

There are more supplies on the way as the Department of Health receives its 44 million RAT kit order, but Ms Gillis said there is a limited supply at the moment.

Meanwhile NHW has become part of a statewide Pandemic Code Brown which formalises the emergency management structure which Wangaratta already has in place to respond to the surge in COVID cases and workforce shortages.

"We've had significant demand on our services as well as staff furloughing and we have already made the decision to reduce our elective surgery and close our community services t...