Ontario will soon be using new rapid COVID-19 tests in select parts of the province.
The tests will provide a result with 5 to 15 minutes.
Dr. Vanessa Allen with Public Health Ontario says they anticipate the first 100,000 being used next month.
They will be used in remote and rural parts of the province where the distance means there’s lengthy turn-around time for results on the standard test.
Allen says to test their accuracy, the standard lab test will also be given along with the rapid one.
Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barbara Yaffe says testing is just one part of dealing with the virus.
“It’s also the support that these people need to know what the symptoms are, to be able to take time off of work to go for testing, to be able to–if they’re positive–to isolate appropriately,” Yaffe says.
