The New Zealand Government has signed an agreement with ESR to support COVID-19 diagnostic testing for Pacific Island countries.
Under this arrangement, ESR will test potential COVID-19 samples from Pacific Island countries who do not have in-country capability. These will be undertaken in New Zealand and the countries will be supported by the World Health Organization.
ESR General Manager Health and Environment Dr Libby Harrison says the testing is part of an overall effort at ESR to support the Pacific.
“The scale of COVID-19 requires countries to support one another in their responses,” Dr Harrison says. “The provision of testing is just one way that ESR is supporting our Pacific Island neighbours. Year-round, the relationship with these countries is strengthened within the areas of water, health and forensic science.”
The test is based on a validated method which is widely used by many other national reference laboratories across the world.
For information on COVID-19, please visit the Ministry of Health Website.