Newfoundland and Labrador is now considering introducing rapid COVID testing in the wake of the arrival of the highly-contagious omicron variant.
Government has resisted such an approach up until now even though it has been widely available in other provinces for many months.
Premier Andrew Furey, speaking on the VOCM Morning Show following last night’s meeting of first ministers, said rapid testing it is now on the table.
Furey says they will first discuss the possibility of having the rapid test at our borders but may also follow other jurisdictions and make it available at the community level.
Dr Lisa Barrett, assistant professor in the department of medicine at Dalhousie who specializes in infectious disease and immunology, says we should not have an all-out Christmas this year. Keep things at a moderate level and access all the tools in the COVID kit including rapid testing.
She says to get vaccinated, get a third or booster shot if that’s what’s recommended, and stay home if you’re sick.