As the chill of fall and winter descends, effectively announcing another season of respiratory ailments, Canadians find themselves wondering if their symptoms point towards a common cold, the flu or the more formidable COVID-19.
In such times of crisis, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests have proven to be invaluable. These tests, provided gratis at the height of the pandemic, helped individuals ascertain their health status. However, as infection rates and demand decreased, so did the widespread distribution of these tests.
Now though, with increasing positive COVID-19 and subsequent hospitalization rates, there’s a resurgence in demand for these rapid tests. The rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations from nearly 1,500 in August to over 2,700 in the past week across Canada certainly validates this assertion. Yet, it is telling that the proportion in intensive care remains steady at around three per cent, well below the peaks of previous waves.
Although the pandemic landscape evolves, one constant remains: the necessity of COVID-19 tests. The Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada have confirmed the availability of over 90 million tests in the federal inventory, 700,000 of which are due to expire at the end of the year. An additional 500 million tests distributed to the provinces and territories since July have resulted in an estimated 187 million tests remaining in these local reserves.
These resources are available to provinces and territories through the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile in case of public health emergencies or local resource shortages. The federal government emphasizes the complimentary nature of these tests and encourages responsible management within individual provinces and territories.
And while Health Canada has permitted 17 shelf-life extensions for 13 rapid tests, it is crucial to remember that expired tests may render unreliable results. Instead, citizens should indeed adhere to the recommended guideline to use unexpired tests.
Test availability differs from province to province. For instance, it’s not recommended for symptomless adults and children in British Columbia, whereas it’s accessible at participating pharmacies in Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton as per the Alberta government. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Eastern provinces have their respective distribution strategies. Meanwhile, in the territories; Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, the testing facilities are listed on their respective government websites.
Healthcare strategies may differ across soil and sea, but the collective aim to keep COVID-19 at bay remains steadfast. Stay informed, get tested when necessary and help Canada keep the numbers down.
