The province’s health minister says the public health lab in Eastern Health is working on further increasing its COVID-19 testing capacity.

John Haggie says at the moment, they have not been advised of any “bottle necks” in testing by public health.

He says those changes could be in place by as early as the end of the week.

Currently, Haggie says testing numbers per-day are between 200 and 300.

The capacity of the current machine is at least 600. He says the changes the public health lab would be introducing, when fully implemented, would be almost triple that number, in a day.

Meanwhile, the Minister says they are open to the idea of using technology to connect loved ones before passing away to help with the visitation restrictions put in place due to COVID-19.

Haggie says they would have to check with the facilities across the province to check their what various states of readiness are, but it is something they are prepared to look at.

Government Working on Contact Tracing for Pharmacy Worker

Minister Haggie says contact tracing is underway after a Sobey’s pharmacy employee tested positive for COVID-19.

Sobeys has confirmed that an employee working in the pharmacy of the supermarket at 470 Topsail Road has tested positive for the virus. The last day the employee worked was March 26th.

Haggie says an analysis of who would have been at risk over the course of the time the individual worked is being done by public health.

He says anyone who has been there and developed symptoms should fill in the online assessment tool, and if need be called 811 where they will be advised accordingly.

Public Health has recommended self-isolation for select pharmacy employees. They have done a deep cleaning and sanitization of the store.