More rapid testing sites for province
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/04/2021 (1905 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
On Monday, the province launched a COVID-19 rapid test asymptomatic screening strategy to protect Manitobans in various critical sectors of the province.
The launch is in support of businesses and critical services sector and will include a number of organizations from a cross-segment of Manitoba sectors including the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, Manitoba’s Wildfire Service, a mid-sized Manitoba-based agri-foods business (Winkler Meats), a mining operation in northern Manitoba (Alamos Gold Inc.) and a major airline (Air Canada), the province stated in a news release.
“We are partnering with Manitoba businesses and critical services to make the best use of our rapid test supply with the goal of identifying asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in the workplace and other critical settings that would otherwise go undetected,” Health and Seniors Care Minister Heather Stefanson stated.
“This rapid test program will help us protect more Manitobans as we deal with a rise in COVID-19 cases.”
The program builds on the current Fast Pass asymptomatic rapid testing in place for teachers and education workers. Rapid testing uses an antigen-based test and is already in place for asymptomatic staff at select personal care homes in Manitoba.
There are currently no plans to include the Parkwood Centre in Brandon, an arm of the Addiction Foundation of Manitoba, in the AFM’s rapid testing screening program in a provincial pilot rollout the province launched on Monday, a spokesperson for the organization said in an email to The Sun.
“The AFM’s involvement in the COVID-19 rapid testing screening program pilot includes our men’s and women’s in-house treatment sites in Winnipeg. There are currently no plans to expand AFM’s involvement beyond the two sites in Winnipeg,” said the spokesperson.
Critical service providers in non-health-care settings are the target of the expanded strategy. Those partner organizations are responsible for administering the tests, tracking and reporting test results to the province.
Specifically, their geographic location, potential supply chain, community or population impacts, transportation or living arrangements or who has been hit hard by COVID-19 will be part of the expanded strategy.
Those organizations will self-administer the asymptomatic screening program after they’ve received training from Red River College in a two-hour virtual training module on nasal swabbing and how to conduct a rapid test for the pilot program.
Participating organizations have already received a three-month supply of the rapid tests from the province.
The nasal swabs don’t go as far into the nasal cavity as the nasopharyngeal swab that is used for the standard COVID-19 test.
“The course, which was designed in partnership with the province, provides non-health-care providers with the knowledge, practice and tools needed to safely conduct an anterior nasal swab and use an antigen rapid test device,” a spokesperson for Red River College said in an email to The Sun.
The spokesperson said additional organizations will be added to the virtual training program as needed.
“Red River College has already started to train individuals at the province’s request for a number of the partner organizations.”
The program may expand to other industries such as construction and transportation. There may be other delivery models such as pop-up screening clinics at a later date, the release said.
A Fast Pass site was launched in Winkler on April 12. This is the second Fast Pass program in the province. The first one was in March in Winnipeg.
With the Fast Pass site launch in the community, it makes access for testing for school-based and child-care staff more accessible.
“This rapid testing program can help screen even those who have been immunized to provide assurances to workforces and their employees,” Stefanson said.
Similar to the Winnipeg Fast Pass site, the Winkler site offers asymptomatic and symptomatic testing for those eligible.
» The Brandon Sun