Beginning in late December, provinces and territories will no longer receive rapid COVID-19 review from the federal government. So decided the Public Health Agency of Canada, which however would keep a certain number in reserve.
However, the Agency will reconsider this decision to stop distributing rapid tests before the end of the year, to take into account the evolution of scientific knowledge related to the coronavirus.
The federal government will maintain a stockpile of 100 million antigen tests as part of a national prevention strategy. Half of this reserve will be kept for the provinces and territories, and half will be used to meet future needs.
At the end of September 2020, to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government approved a rapid test that was used for several months in the United States. Distribution to the provinces and territories began immediately thereafter.
But in October 2021, federal data showed that the use of these tests was less prevalent and it varied by province: Ontario, for example, used 32% of the 20 million tests sent here. Ottawa. In Quebec, on that date, only 7% of the 3.3 million trials sent were used in pilot projects and at some large companies.
Distribution of the tests through Quebec pharmacies began in December 2021.
So far across the country, all indicators associated with COVID-19 are declining, whether it is the number of cases, hospitalized or chronic cases. This is also the case for the indices collected by the wastewater analysis.
However, the number of coronavirus -related hospitalizations remains high.
Asked about the end of the distribution of quick reviews, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health official, on Friday said the best defense against COVID-19 remains distancing and wearing a mask.
I think rapid tests have the potential to change the behavior of people who test positive, he explains, although we all know that just having a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been contracted with COVID-19. .
It is important to continue all other COVID-19 prevention measures, he reiterated.
Dr. said. That’s enough at this point in the pandemic, some of the duties and responsibilities will be returned to the provinces.
Post-COVID syndrome under a magnifying glass
In addition, experts are looking more deeply at cases of post-COVID syndrome, i.e., people who retain certain symptoms, and this, three months after the first infection. The most common symptoms are fatigue, mental problems, trouble sleeping and shortness of breath.
These chronic symptoms affect both children and adults. But more women than men seem to be affected by long-term COVID-19.
Studies conducted before the Omicron variant came out suggest that approximately 30-40% of people-who have not been hospitalized after their first COVID-19 infection-still have one or more symptoms. after 12 weeks. their severe infection.
This percentage may be even higher in people hospitalized following their first infection with COVID-19, Drs. Howard Njoo on Friday, deputy chief administrator of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
All of these data relate to the long-term case of COVID-19 associated with infections that occurred before the Omicron variant appeared last November.
More border tests
On Tuesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced the maintenance, until the end of June, of border restrictions related to COVID-19.
Thus, all travelers, regardless of their immunization status, must continue to submit their information using the free ArriveCAN application or the Canada Border Services Agency website.
These restrictions remain necessary, in the opinion of public health authorities, regardless of the tourism industry, who particularly regret the delays it causes in customs and security checks at the country’s air terminals.
You need to always be prepared, Dr Njoo said on Friday, because there is always the possibility that a new variant of the concern has emerged. In this case, it is important to report it to the authorities of other countries, with whom it is necessary to maintain a good exchange of information, he graduated.
Source: Radio-Canada
