Nova Scotia Volunteers Continue to Support County’s COVID-19 Testing Efforts – Halifax

A physician and infectious disease researcher in Halifax applauds the continued efforts of volunteers handing out rapid test kits during the Omicron wave.

“Nova Scotians would do well to be patient. We still have better access to kits than anywhere else in Canada. Especially in a volunteer-driven way,” says Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Within hours, the supply of quick Boxing Day tests distributed at the Halifax Convention Center was exhausted.

Crowds of people descended into the downtown area both on foot and in their vehicles to try to pick up equipment.

Strong demand for testing in Nova Scotia has prompted the province to change its approach to use the finite resource in a more targeted way.

“We just really need to keep the PCR testing for high-risk people and that’s OK and normal, but one more reminder that if we switch to not as much testing, it’s going to seem like the case numbers are going down,” Barrett said.

She says people should not assume that lowercase letters mean less virus circulating among the population in the coming weeks.

“It looks like the number of cases is going down because we won’t be recording that many because people are doing their own tests at home with an antigen test,” she said.

Public health directs people who are in close contact with a confirmed case or who are symptomatic to immediately self-isolate.

Starting Monday, those conditions should also be monitored for people who complete an online self-assessment via the provincial website to determine which specific type of test to proceed with.

According to the latest information from the county, most people will be referred to book a quick test as PCR slots are limited to those most vulnerable to serious illness, an integral part of the health care system’s operations or who live in a congregational environment.

“I hope people remember that any person can be a contact person or a positive one for them, and we won’t know that very well anymore. So go out into the world knowing that COVID is all around you. That’s not fear, but make sure you wear your mask very well,” Barrett said.

She also encourages Nova Scotians not to go too far from their homes in the coming weeks as the virus continues to circulate.

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