The Government has secured an additional 36 million rapid antigen tests over the course of February and March as New Zealand prepares to step up its response to the Covid-19 Omicron outbreak.

They form part of the 123 million tests ordered through to June whilst Labour also state one supplier has confirmed no tests ordered by the private sector have been were used to fill Government orders.

This comes after reports of Government taking stock of RAT already ordered by businesses across New Zealand.

The Government has ordered 20 million RAT from Kudu Spectrum for the Orient Gene RAT and a further 16 million tests from CoShield for the Assure Tech Eco-Test to be delivered over February and March.

It means New Zealand will have access to over 55 million RATs over the next eight weeks.

RAT is underway at Auckland Airport. Supplied.

'Last week and over the weekend the Government has been in contact with a variety of rapid antigen test manufacturers,” says Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall.

'Those efforts have resulted in securing an additional 36 million tests for delivery over the next two months which corresponds with a predicted rise in Omicron cases.

'These additional 36 million tests are on top of the 16.9 million orders already confirmed for delivery in February. Along with the 5.1 million tests already in the country, New Zealanders will have access to over 55 million rapid antigen tests in the coming two months.

'A total of 123 million rapid antigen tests have been ordered through to June, which will allow for regular and widespread testing to occur.”

Verrall says modelling has shown peak usage could see nine million RAT's used a week across the nation with many to be used as part of a test to return to work policy.

'That scale of testing will go a long way to reducing the risk of an infected person going to work and infecting others, and will help with keeping critical services and supply chains open and moving,” says Verrall.

'Many of the RATs will be used to implement our ‘test to return' policy for asymptomatic critical workers so our hospitals, supermarkets and other services that keep the country running can continue operating.”

Mainfreight have also been utilising RAT. Supplied photo.

Abbott, a supplier of RATs has informed the Ministry of Health that no tests ordered by the private sector prior to the Government's largest order in January have been used to fill Government orders, says Verrall.

However, she does admit the priority will remain with providing RAT's to the vulnerable and critical workers amid a 'significant global supply constraint”

'The Government is actively working with suppliers to support the private sector get access to RATs in a competitive global market,” says Verrall.

'If businesses can find an approved supply of RATs and they can import them, there is nothing stopping businesses from using these tests.

'The use and supply of RATs will continue to be prioritised to ensure we are protecting the vulnerable and to enable asymptomatic critical workers to return to work.”

However, ACT Party leader David Seymour believes the Government reaction remains too slow.

'The Government talks about going hard and fast, but the truth is it needed an outbreak to prepare for Omicron," he says. "It is Delta all over again.

'The Government has made two massive U-turns. One, it is begging for Rapid Antigen Tests that it used to ban. Two, it is now letting businesses import Rapid Antigen Tests without them being confiscated.

'The additional Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) is good news and a good start, but it never should have come down to a Minister begging, borrowing and stealing once Omicron was already in the community."