Eastern Health is offering further clarification on delays in the return of a large number of COVID test results.
Thousands of tests had to be forwarded to labs in Ontario and Manitoba between December 27 and January 7 due to the sheer number that had to be processed—far exceeding capacity at the provincial lab.
Eastern Health says the Public Health Microbiology Lab has partnered with a referral lab in Newfoundland and Labrador and three in other provinces.
Test results sent out began uploading to Eastern Health’s system late Saturday night—a process that will continue for the next day or so.
Those who got their swab before January 3, and who have not yet received their result online, or those who do not have access to a computer, are asked to contact Eastern Health by phone at 709-777-6500 or 1-877 444-1399 or by email at Client.Relations@easternhealth.ca.
(Jerry Earle, file photo.)
The president of NAPE is asking government to apologize for not informing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians about a delay in thousands of COVID test results.
The delay meant that a large number of people whose tests were negative had to isolate for the full period while awaiting their results. NAPE President Jerry Earle says that had consequences on the health care system with over 1,000 health care workers now in isolation, adding to the existing stress and strain.
Earle was fielding questions from the public asking him if their results were lost. He says people would have understood had they just been told what was happening.
Communication is key says Earle. “They owe the people of the province a full apology.”
