Alberta is expanding their rapid testing for COVID-19 to continuing care facilities across the province.
Rapid testing will be made available to screen asymptomatic staff at all long-term care and supportive living facilities in the province. Three long-term care sites are expected to start testing as early as next week with more facilities receiving their tests in the coming weeks. Health Minister Tyler Shandro says these rapid tests have already been used successfully in outbreaks, hospitals and homeless shelters in Alberta.
“Expanding rapid tests to help keep the 36,000 staff safe who take care of Alberta’s seniors is the next logical step.”
Shandro adds the province is developing rapid screen programs for asymptomatic people at correctional facilities, shelters and schools as well as for symptomatic people in rural areas.
Rapid testing has already been deployed at 33 COVID-19 assessment centres, 29 hospitals, seven homeless shelters and mobile testing facilities at designated supportive living facilities with potential outbreaks.
The province is also starting a new rapid testing pilot at two Suncor Energy sites. The pilot will test 325 workers twice per week for ten weeks at the Suncor base plant and Fort McKay.