SELF-MONITORING RAPID TEST SIMPLE — ‘LIKE PREGNANCY TEST’
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — I had a rapid test yesterday morning — and got my booster shot in the afternoon.
Today I picked up rapid test kits from the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce — enough to get me through the holidays.
I’m asymptomatic and I passed my test in 15 minutes.
So I’m good coming up to Christmas.
A feeling many Canadians may struggle with in the weeks ahead, as we definitely head in to what looks to be the worst wave yet heading in to year three of the pandemic, warned Dr. Charles Gardner today
I was visiting The Pines retirement home with the Bifocals Band to play carols for residents who are now only allowed two personal visits— and no outside overnight trips home this holiday.
It was a busy day at the District of Muskoka-run home, which has had and survived several staff and resident outbreaks, as a number of new staff were being oriented.
Including Kimberley Lammers, of Bracebridge, a 22-year-old RCA (registered care aide) who has a contract until next September when she hopes to go to B.C. to study nursing.
She said she’s just glad to have a job and isn’t too concerned about working in the health field with COVID.
She was among dozens of us at 9 a.m. who received a routine rapid test screen in the lobby after first signing in electronically on a smart pad just to enter.
So how simple and rapid is the self-monitoring COVID test for adults and children who will be going home from school for the holidays with the provincially-provided kits?
Nurse Riley Mahon gave everyone a shallow nasal swab (they go deeper for regular tests) then we sat and waited barely long enough to chat.
“It’s like a pregnancy test,” she said sampling both nostrils, dipping the swab into a plastic tube with a buffer solution for 15-30 seconds — before emptying the contents into a specimen test strip.
Fifteen minutes later she read the results.
“If it’s a ‘C’ it’s negative — and if it’s a ‘C’ and a ‘T’ it’s positive. And if it’s a ‘T’ it’s inconclusive” and you have to redo it.
Voila! We all tested negative.
It’s so simple you can do it at home.
And tens of thousands have — at least in Muskoka where chambers of commerce in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes are part of an Ontario Chamber of Commerce initiative to get the home test kits out to all businesses — not just chamber members.
They recommend twice-a-week testing per person and there are 25 tests in each box.
Gravenhurst chamber executive director Sandy Lockhart — who produced a great how-to video explaining their use — says they’ve distributed 14,275 tests to 153 businesses.
At the Bracebridge chamber, office manager Marny Mowat says they’ve handed out 30,000+ rapid tests to 250+ businesses.
And she says they’re getting more requests every day.
Both say they are calling the health unit to get more supply every day.
In Huntsville, executive director Kelly Haywood tells MuskokaTODAY.com they’ve handed out 29,300 tests to 261 businesses.
At Muskoka Lakes executive director Norah Fountain says they’re up to 27,000 tests given out to 121 businesses.
Businesses, only, can call their local chamber to enquire about getting the kits.
Rapid test kits are at a premium right now across the province and Gardner did note this afternoon that they are available through chambers of commerce.
But the push now is on for kits in schools.
“Right now there is no direct advocacy for others” in the public to receive them.
Though he said: “One hears that the province is considering them to be provided by pharmacies.”
And he said if people do get Omicron, they have to isolate and there could soon be antiviral medication to help avoid people ending in overstretched hospitals.
He said if you experience shortness of breath not to hesitate going to hospital.
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