COVID-19: More than a million rapid tests available on Monday
The deployment of rapid tests must intensify in the coming weeks, according to the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé.
Of the 800,000 rapid test kits planned for distribution before the start of the holiday season, 200,000 will be available on Monday, the equivalent of one million tests, assures the Quebec Association of Pharmacy Distributors .
The distributors, who supply all the hospitals and pharmacies in the province with medicines every day, received the mandate a few days ago by the public health authorities to ensure the distribution of some 4.2 million screening tests. COVID-19 before the start of the holiday season, which represents 800,000 kits. One million tests will be available on Monday.
Despite the very tight deadlines, the challenges related to the weather, and the fact that the first rapid tests intended for pharmacies arrived in our warehouses in Quebec for the most part less than 48 hours ago, the teams of the seven distribution centers of our members are determined to ensure efficient logistics so that as many Quebecers as possible have access to a kit before the start of the holiday season.
The president of the Quebec Association of Pharmacy Distributors, Mr. Albert Falardeau , by press release
The distribution of this first delivery should “provide each of the more than 1,900 pharmacies in Quebec with a first box of 108 kits of five tests as of tomorrow, or Tuesday at the latest for certain pharmacies located in more remote regions”. As of December 23, the rapid test kits received will be “immediately distributed by distributors to all pharmacies in Quebec.”
For several days now, the screening centers have been overflowing with people coming get tested. Different CIUSSS on the Island of Montreal explained to Metro that they were operating at full capacity.
“Currently, we have waiting times that can go up to three hours at certain times of the day. , according to the screening center. It is therefore useful to anticipate a certain level of waiting given the traffic rate that we have seen for a few days “, explained the communications advisor of the CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île, Christian Merciari.
The day before, Valérie Plante received a positive test result for COVID-19.
