Rio Tinto provides rapid antigen test kits, personal protective equipment to assist Roebourne COVID cases

With an ongoing COVID-19 situation in Roebourne, mining giant Rio Tinto has provided critical supplies to Aboriginal medical services in the region as WA Health claim there is no shortage of rapid antigen testing kits. The mining company has provided RAT kits and personal protective equipment to medical services and other critical services in Roebourne, including 100 RAT kits to Roebourne District High School. A Rio Tinto spokesperson said the company was working closely with WA Health to ensure regional communities have the necessary support and resources to effectively manage COVID-19. “In response to the recent rise in community transmission in Roebourne, Rio Tinto is supporting the work of DoH, WA Country Health Service and Mawarnkarra Health Services as we finalise our plans to stand up the Wickham COVID-19 testing centre in the coming days and in the interim we have provided RATs and PPE to support,” they said. “In partnership with DoH and local health services, Rio Tinto is working to open COVID-19 testing centres to provide free rapid antigen test kits and screening to regional communities including Wickham, Paraburdoo, Pannawonica and Tom Price.” A WA Health spokesperson denied there was a lack of critical supplies. “There is no shortage of RATs, however Rio Tinto and other industry partners have offered to supply additional resources and WACHS will work with them as demands grow to free up health resources to focus on high-risk settings,” they said. “The WACHS is working with local stakeholders including Mawarnkarra Health Services, City of Karratha and the police and community youth centres and has set up a high volume COVID-19 testing facility in Roebourne which has begun operating. “WA Health continues to work with the WACHS and the Department of Education regarding the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Roebourne and across the wider Pilbara region.” The Department of Education has confirmed there are active cases at Roebourne DHS but would not disclose the number. On Thursday 46 new cases were reported in the Pilbara, bringing the total active cases in the region to 201.