The Minister of Northern Development believes our area will be treated fairly in the distribution of rapid antigen tests.
A number of individuals, organizations and health agencies have questioned the rollout but Greg Rickford notes a fair system is in place.
“Northern Ontario has not been any more or less compromised by the availability of rapid antigen tests. This is a global shortage that is being addressed as we speak.”
Rickford says additional tests will first be distributed to hard hit areas and believes there are communities here that will fall under that guideline.
The Kenora-Rainy River MPP adds, “The Ministry of Health is responsible for the supply chain for rapid testing and I am confident that northern Ontario will receive tests, in priority sequence and entirely consistent with the rest of the province. We continue to urge the federal government to provide more supply of rapid tests to the province so we can deliver kits to Ontarians across the province.”
Ontario is prioritizing the use of rapid antigen tests to high risk sectors until more come in.
Facilities like long-term care facilities and hospitals will get first crack.
Schools will be next in line.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says, “Our goal is to have these tests as soon as possible for the school setting where they would be used for symptoms. If it’s a positive you should stay home. If it’s two negatives, 24 hours apart and your symptoms are resolved, you can return to the school setting.”
Dr. Moore says others will have access to the test once more can be obtained.
“Once we can maintain that safe supply to ensure patients are protected in those settings we will move down are framework and provide them to be more accessible and available.”
The province is expecting 54 million tests from the federal government while its procured another 85 million on its own.