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Rapid Tests

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Mandates Expiring; LTC Visitor Restrictions & Unvaxxed Rules Relaxed

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More mandates are continuing to expire.

Monday March 14, the requirement that long-term care homes, hospitals and other health care settings employees be fully vaccinated expires. Schools are also included in this list.

It is up to each facility to continue the mandate on their own if they choose to.

These impacted sectors will still receive rapid tests, as well eligible care staff and residents will be able to get free PCR testing.

Visitor rules are also being relaxed in care settings; children under five years old will be allowed visitation as well as unvaxxed residents will be permitted overnight stays.

March 21 is when masks will no longer be mandatory in public settings, allowing each business with the exception of public transit, LTC/retirement home settings, shelters, jails & other congregate care settings.

Businesses will no longer need to screen patrons upon arrival, and co-horting in schools along with symptom screening comes to an end.

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Feds Looking To Deliver Millions Of Rapid Tests

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The federal government will be distributing 140 million rapid tests to the provinces this month.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it’s up to the federal government to procure the tests, but the province has to decide how to distribute them.

“Our job is to procure as many as we possibly can, and get them to the provinces free of charge,” states Trudeau.

“They (the provinces) will make determinations around delivering them to people. We have certain stockpiles for vulnerable populations and specific usage, but the vast majority of rapid tests will be sent to provinces and territories to distribute.”

Health Minister Jean Yves Duclos says the number of rapids test are four times as many as the 35 million that was distributed to the provinces in December.

Prime minister Trudeau also weighed in on the fiasco of the Sunwing flight that made the rounds on social media.

In a series of now-deleted videos, passengers were seen drinking alcohol, vaping, and partying without masks in close proximity.

In one video, a large bottle of vodka is being passed around.

Trudeau calls their actions irresponsible.

“It’s a slap in the face to see people putting themselves, putting their fellow citizens, putting airline workers at risk by being completely irresponsible.”

Trudeau says Transport Canada launching an investigation into the flight.

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Feds Sign Agreement For Rapid COVID-19 Tests

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Canadians may soon be able to get COVID-19 test results a lot more quickly.

The federal government has signed an agreement with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics for up to 7.9-million COVID-19 rapid tests.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand says the nasal swab-based test will provide results in about 15 minutes.

“These rapid tests will aid in meeting the urgent demand to test Canadians and reduce wait times for results, which is key to reducing the spread of the virus.

The agreement is pending Health Canada approval of the tests, said Anand, who noted they are also continuing to pursue other rapid test agreements.

Many questions still remain, such as when the tests might be delivered or distributed to provinces and territories.

Conservative health critic Michelle Rempel Garner said the government’s “inaction on testing is unacceptable.”

“The same rapid point-of-care test that Health Canada is now looking at has been used by our G7 allies for months, and yet, it is still not approved in Canada, even though they’re supposedly trying to order it,” she said.

“Justin Trudeau’s government’s complete inaction on testing is unacceptable. We know that testing is a key tool to get our country back to work and to fight this pandemic.”

As part of the agreement, the government is also buying up to 3,800 analyzers, which perform the test and deliver the results.