Health Minister John Haggie says wait times at testing sites are longer than he’d like to see.
He says various things contribute to that, such as traffic control issues, and people showing up without appointments.
Haggie also pointed to a “modest” cancellation rate of about 100 people a day, given the long waits.
But he says about the same number account for “no-shows,” which is also causing problems at testing sites.
He says those are particularly disappointing because it involves people who have been advised to get tested, and should’ve been tested, adding that appointment time is then lost and not available for others.
Haggie says the new site in Mount Pearl will soon add 750 new tests per day, in addition to the 2,300 already being done in a 24-hour period.
The drive-through testing clinic—at the Reid Community Centre—is by appointment only and is in addition to the clinics at Mount Pearl Senior High, the Janeway, and the Waterford.