High risk patients could receive their COVID-19 test results within an hour, as the NSW government rolls out new rapid testing kits statewide.
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The new testing kits are already in use in regional NSW Health Pathology laboratories including Wagga, and Griffith will begin using them next week.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits will now be rolled out to 29 additional labs.
"The faster we can isolate higher risk patients and quarantine their contacts, the less likely they can unknowingly spread it to others," Mr Hazzard said.
"On average, test results are being processed in less than 48 hours from the far corners of this vast state which is an achievement in itself, given the issues with flights and logistics."
Mr Hazzard said the technology was already used to test influenza and other respiratory viruses.
NSW Health has also released a map to show people were the current coronavirus cases have been located across the state.
Using data from NSW Health, the map allows people to see the number of cases, both active and recovered, and the number of people tested.
Regions are colour coded depending on their numbers.
It clearly shows hot spots such as the eastern suburbs and the lower North Shore in Sydney.
There is also a toggle that compares data from as far back as March 25.
You can use the interactive map here.
