Referrals no longer needed for COVID-19 testing

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This article was published 14/05/2020 (2069 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitobans no longer need to be referred by Health Links to be tested for COVID-19, public health officials said Wednesday.

Starting today, anyone who is experiencing symptoms can now go directly to a community testing site, Shared Health’s chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa announced during Wednesday’s health briefing.

Those who have symptoms of even a cold or flu should check the online screening tool, and if they meet the criteria for COVID-19 should make their way to the nearest testing site where they will be asked questions and provided with information on self-isolating while waiting for the results to come back, Siragusa said. Individuals can check for negative results online, while those who test positive will be contacted directly public health staff.

Information on the province’s 16 testing sites and their hours are available online at manitoba.ca/covid19.

Brandon’s testing site is in The Town Centre parking garage.

“Health Links will continue to serve a very important role in COVID-19 efforts,” Siragusa said, and operators will still provide advice on the virus as well as general health concerns.

Patients can still be referred for testing from Health Links or a doctor.

Siragusa noted it’s possible the sites will see a sudden influx of people coming in to get tested.

But, she said, those who come in for testing don’t stay long. “It’s mostly in and out, so if there is a bit of a lineup or a wait hopefully that will move along pretty quickly.”

She added the testing sites are all aware of the change and should be prepared for it.

“It’s just an extra step we don’t really necessarily need to take.”

Siragusa noted Manitoba has the capacity to test 2,000 people a day “and we’re not doing anywhere near that.”

Responding to questions on the cluster of cases at Paul’s Hauling’s Brandon maintenance shop, Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, said Wednesday one contact case has come back negative.

Of the remaining 10 cases, there have been 25 total contacts, 19 of whom are still self-isolating, Roussin said.

One person from the cluster is currently in hospital, while three of the 10 cases have since recovered.

Meanwhile, the province continues to ramp up diagnostic testing, including scheduling of more MRIs, ultrasounds and CT scans, Siragusa said.

“We will start this process by rescheduling some of the postponed appointments over the next couple of weeks,” she said. From now until May 22, the goal is to schedule 2,000 diagnostic imaging tests.

Patients who had their tests postponed will be contacted directly, she said.

No new cases of COVID-19 were reported Wednesday, so the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba remains at 290.

Four people are currently hospitalized, with one person in intensive care. That person is not related to the Brandon cluster.

There are 32 active cases in Manitoba, while 251 people have recovered from COVID-19.

» brobertson@brandonsun.com