Why Australia's COVID-19 case numbers could be higher than official reports

Members of the public queue in their cars for Covid19 PCR tests at a clinic at North Ryde in Sydney. Source: AAP

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Some epidemiologists say the real number of new COVID-19 infections in Australia's most populous states is far higher than what’s being reported, but infections could soon peak.

Following a Cabinet meeting of Parliament, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced changes to COVID-19 guidelines including the removal of the requirement to perform a PCR test if a person tests positive for a rapid antigen test.

This has raised concerns that some Australian medical experts would not be able to give an accurate number as the officially announced daily number of new Covid-19 cases only includes PCR test results and will not reflect the true number as people turn to rapid antigen testing.

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