Ho Ho (Oh No!) 2021's Hardest Holiday Conversation: Covid Testing Card Campaign Launches to Humorously Handle Australians' Most Uncomfortable Holiday Ask

SYDNEY,Dec. 7,2021 --According to new research from Rapid Test & Trace Australia,only 42.6% of Australiansplan to ask family and friends to get a COVID test to ensure safety before holiday visits. Even more shockingly,6.6% of Australians say 'they could never ask them to get a COVID test,' and 9.3% say 'they'd like to ask them,but can't.'

RAPID TEST & TRACE'S CARD CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES TO HUMOROUSLY HANDLE EVERYONES MOST UNCOMFORTABLE HOLIDAY ASK - GETTING COVID TESTED

A) The most wonderful time of year (to test COVID Clear)

Based on Australians' hesitance to ask friends and family to take COVID tests BEFORE holiday gatherings,Rapid Test & Trace Australia (a national provider of rapid antigen tests for COVID-19) has created a novel solution to stimulate conversation on this sticky subject with a series of five humour-based 'holiday cards' to coax COVID testing cooperation.

The cards are available as both social media shareable,fully animated digital cards (with voiceovers) and as digital and printable images free of charge to all Australians at the company's website at https://rapidtestsaustralia.com/ecards.

Card # 1 Outside text

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR (IF YOU TEST COVID CLEAR)

Card # 1 Inside text

Happy Holidays and best of the season!

I need you to do something soon (I have a really good reason.)

We can't wait to see you; you guys are the best … but before we meet up,I need you to take a rapid COVID-19 test.

Card # 2 Outside text

#CANCEL COVID CHRISTMAS

Card # 2 Inside text

With holiday cheers and candy cane flavour,I'm using this card to ask a small favour.

We can't wait to celebrate the season; we're super keen – but we don't want to invite COVID-19.

With the warmest of thoughts and wishing you the best,I'm asking you and yours to take a rapid COVID test.

Card # 3 Outside text

All I want for Christmas (is to keep it COVID free)

Card # 3 Inside text

In the weeks before Christmas,we'll all be in a rush … I have a favour to ask that might make me blush.

We can't wait to see you and enjoy the season's glee – but please have you and yours take a rapid test,so we all stay COVID-free.

All cards are available as both fully shareable,animated digital cards (with voiceovers) and a printable card free of charge to all Australians at the company's websitehere.

All cards and animated video cards can be downloaded in high resolution by media here.

"As we navigate the 2021 holiday season,COVID-19 is still a very real and very frightening concern for all Australians. Based on our research,there's still a lot of hesitation to ask friends and family to take a simple COVID-19 rapid test; we wanted to tackle the topic with humour to diffuse potential testing turbulence," said Sandy White,Co-Founder of Rapid Test & Trace Australia. "The COVID story also seems to change daily,so the only way to feel truly secure and celebrate the holidays safely is to ask all your holiday visitors to get a COVID-19 rapid test."

B) The COVID Christmas Survey

Rapid Test & Trace also commissioned a (just completed) survey of 1000 Australians to gauge how they are feeling about COVID-19 over the holidays and how they are planning to navigate seasonal celebrations.

PLEASE ATTRIBUTE THIS AS A RAPID TEST & TRACE AUSTRALIA SURVEY IN ALL MEDIA MENTIONS

Key Findings of the survey:

1) Holiday arguments now include COVID:

Asked what they expect to argue most about during the holidays,'things that happened decades ago' (32.8%) and 'politics' (32.8%) take the top spots,but COVID-related arguments are also expected to make an appearance at family celebrations with a combined total of 40.8% expecting topics like 'getting fully vaccinated' (17.0%),'limiting visits due to COVID' (15.1), and 'getting a COVID test before visiting' (8.7%).

Australian men (56.2%) are more likely to argue about getting COVID tests 'before visiting' than women (43.8%).

2) Australians may be afraid to ask:

42.6% of Australiansplan to ask family and friends to get a COVID test to ensure safety before holiday visits. Even more shockingly,but can't.'

3) But Australians are (mostly) okay with COVID testing requests:

66.4% of Australians say they would take a COVID test before visiting family (if asked),only 17.9% said 'no,' and 15.7% said 'I don't know.'

Women (52.6%) are more willing to get COVID tests before holiday visits than men (47.4%)

4) Staying close to home,but not limiting holiday visits

A combined total of 53.5% ofAustralians are keeping holiday visits close to home with 31.8% planning 'local' visits and 21.7% planning visits within their own state.

Asked if they are limiting holiday visits due to COVID concerns,69.7% of Australians said 'no.'

5) Risky Rendezvous?

30.8% of Australians say they 'don't know' if someone at high risk for COVID would be at their holiday event.

59.2%of women are concerned with adults who are immunocompromised catching COVID at holiday events vs. only 40.8% of men (asked who they would exclude from holiday events due to COVID).

PLEASE ATTRIBUTE THIS AS A RAPID TEST & TRACE AUSTRALIA SURVEY IN ALL MEDIA MENTIONS

About Rapid Test & Trace Australia

Rapid Test & Trace Australia is a specialized online retailer of rapid antigen tests for COVID-19. As part of Rapid Test & Trace's global operations that include in-country ecommerce businesses in Canadaand the United States,RTTA offers in-depth product knowledge and expertise to individuals and businesses. Consumers benefit from RTT's experience with rapid testing program planning and data management.

RTTA is proud its online store allows people to access rapid COVID tests and helps to provide Australians with a little peace of mind while coping with the challenges of the pandemic.

Contact: Patrick McCaully,Pointman News Creation,Patrick@pointmannc.com

Photo - http://cusmail.com/res/2023/07-23/13/c6a875ed98d93c25124e8c3bc503e6d1.jpg