COVID-19: Nova Scotia Rapid Test Strategy Change Raises Concern – Halifax | The Canadian News

The COVID-19 rapid test sites in Nova Scotia are preparing to close once the province enters Phase 5 of its reopening plan.

Initially, that start date was supposed to be Wednesday.

But on the eve of that date, the province’s Health Minister announced that the reopening will be delayed until October 4 to coincide with the start of the vaccination test policy.

The move was driven by a growing number of cases in Nova Scotia and two growing clusters in the north and central areas.

However, there were long lines at the COVID-19 rapid test sites in Halifax and Dartmouth on the Tuesday before the announcement, in anticipation of it being the last day.

“This has increased considerably,” said Kevin Cox, a volunteer at the Halifax Convention Center clinic.

“We are still in small times, but it is certainly higher than yesterday. Yesterday we had about 300, I think ”.

Regardless of when Phase 5 hits, those who have used rapid tests regularly say they are concerned about the change in testing strategy.

“I go to visit people and help take care of people who are a little older. My mom is 85 years old and it’s an added layer of security, ”said Brian Trainor, who was getting tested at the Alderney Gate clinic in Dartmouth.

“You can’t take risks.”

Others are stocking up on tests to take home, to use in the future.

“I want to do some of the home testing so I can be prepared and do a quick test on my own now that the rapid tests are not available. But I hope they can get them going again because I think it’s really valuable, ”said Sheilagh Henry, who is tested twice a month.

Since November 2020, the province has completed 284,685 rapid tests at emerging test sites in Nova Scotia, said Department of Health and Welfare spokeswoman Marla MacInnis.

An additional 172,756 rapid tests have been used in the same time frame in situations such as cluster and cluster testing, offsetting the demand at Nova Scotia health testing clinics during the third wave.

While the two rapid testing sites will remain open for the next two weeks, regular asymptomatic testing will be reduced.

Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s medical director of health, said the strategy will now target asymptomatic emerging and mobile testing in areas where there are increased numbers of cases and signs of community spread.

“Our testing strategy is changing as we have an increasingly vaccinated population,” he said.

“(It will) be more targeted … to people who are not vaccinated and in communities at higher risk.”

With the arrival of the fourth wave, the NDP wants the progressive conservative government to make rapid tests in schools a priority to protect children under 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

“We are always really concerned about our students and our staff who are inside the schools because they have the most unvaccinated people and we want to continue to make sure that we can keep students and staff safe as we move forward,” said Critic of NDP education, Suzy Hansen.

Liberal leader Iain Rankin also echoed the importance of rapid tests.

“The rapid tests were crucial to crushing the third wave. This is not the time to leave our leadership, ”he tweeted.

The province’s primary screening centers will continue to screen people with symptoms and those who meet the requirements to be a close contact on a case.

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