March 17, 2022
RAT silence slows Māori Omicron response
Iwi health collective Te Ranga Tupa is considering changes to its testing regime so it can get a better picture of the spread of Covid-19 in its area, which includes Whanganui, Rangitīkei, South Taranaki and Waimarino.
Elijah Pue, who is co-leader of its mobile response teams, says the number of people with the virus could be double the official figure.
He says the move to self-management and from PCR to rapid antigen tests is confusing, and many whānau aren’t reporting their positive RAT tests – because they can’t work out the technology, they can’t get wifi access, or they can’t be bothered because they’re going to isolate anyway.
That makes it hard for Māori providers to understand the lay of the land or to support whānau.
“It’s really hard to get out there when people aren’t asking for the help so I just encourage everyone where possible to report your RAT result and if you can’t, give your Māori health provider or your whānau ora provider a call because we’ll help you no matter what,” Mr Pue says.