Health ministry's backdown on saliva testing

Chris Hipkins had stepped into a long running debate on saliva testing (Image: Getty)

Wed, 14 Jul 2021

In a major reversal of its previous opposition to the use of saliva testing for covid-19, the health ministry has approved saliva tests as a replacement for the often painful, so-called ‘brain stab’ nasopharyngeal swab tests for border workers. The decision comes 10 months after a review of the covid response by independent advisers Brian Roche and Heather Simpson urged saliva testing be added to the country’s defences “as soon as practically possible”. Today’s decision by covid-19 response minister...

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