COVID-19 rapid tests — a tool that experts consider vital to fighting the pandemic — will not be shipped to Canadian provinces and territories come year’s end, and some fear “it may be too soon” for such a decision.“Rapid tests are an amazing tool.
So if not those, then what,” Colin Furness, infection control epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s faculty of information, questioned while speaking to Global News Friday.
Ottawa to cut rapid COVID-19 test shipments to provinces, territories by year’s end Having a plan for protecting vulnerable populations, like children under five years of age who cannot yet get vaccinated, is crucial before stopping the shipment of rapid tests, Furness says.“One of the reasons we use rapid testing is to protect vulnerable people.
If we are going to end rapid testing before that group can be protected, I would call that a travesty of epic proportions,” he said.Ceasing the shipment of rapid tests will also allow some to believe the COVID-19 pandemic is over when it really isn’t, according to Furness.“If we’re not testing people and finding positive cases, then there’s no pandemic,” he said.