Central Otago business owners are among those calling for more rapid antigen tests (RATs), with some trying to source their own stock from Australia.

Naseby's Royal Hotel owners were among those trying to source rapid antigen tests (RATs) for Covid-19 from wherever they could, as were other businesses and organisations throughout New Zealand.

Owner Adrian Hood said he was trying to get some for his business to use.

"I'm trying to get my son to source them in Australia for us.

"We feel like we've been waiting for Covid for two years now . . . I need to spend some more time to get my head around everything, but the hard thing for me is that I'm so busy working in the business."

In Naseby they are lucky to have tradies around and corporates like Transpower bringing in regular business to the Royal Hotel, Adrian said.

"There is a lot of building going on and painters in the area who wouldn't normally be here.

"That said, domestic tourism is down without a doubt."

"Dunedin and surrounding areas that use Naseby as a holiday place and weekend getaway are still using it, which we are grateful for."

Subway Cromwell owner Scott Teviotdale said it was shameful the country had not stocked up on RATs.

"Subway in Australia are using them.

"It's [a] 15 min wait for results with rapid antigen testing, versus what we're hearing about in Auckland - five or six days for PCR testing."

Scott said in Australia people could buy a RAT off the shelf at a chemist and he would like to see that here.

His business has had one team member self isolate so far, who then tested negative for Covid-19 and was back at work.

As it was a small team of 14, Scott said he was worried that once one person caught Covid-19 they might have to close.

"That will be the real trigger.

"Once one person is sick, we might have the whole lot get it."

Hospitality NZ chief executive officer Julie White said the compounding strain has left the hospitality sector unable to get through the Omicron wave.

“The Government has over-cooked the fear and the health rules . . . people also fear being caught as a close or secondary contact.

"We need to drop isolation for people coming into New Zealand who test negative and allow close contacts to continue to live and work normally with rapid antigen testing."

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins recently said on RNZ the Government was working to give retailers permission to sell these tests.

Government supplies of RATs are available for business deemed to be a critical/essential service.

The Government has 7.2 million RATs in New Zealand now and about 22 million more are due at the end of this month.

RATs are a type of test for Covid-19, generally by using a front of nose swab and can be taken under supervision, or by yourself.

In Omicron Phase 2 the Ministry of Health states it will use its supply of RATs to support those that need them the most – priority populations and the critical workers that keep the country going and protect our health and wellbeing.

• For more information on the Critical workers - Close Contact Exemption scheme click here. This scheme allows critical workers to report self-administered RATs.
• See Ministry of Health RATs Handout