Over $4-million will be spent by the federal government to better help diagnose cases of COVID-19.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu spoke at the local health unit, adding the money will speed up the gathering of data and test results.
She says this will result in accessing equipment to diagnose and fight the virus on a quicker level. At the beginning of the pandemic, the government wasn’t able to do the work as well as it wanted, but the minister adds it has learned, and this money will assist more, such as providing up to 200,000 tests per day, nationally.
Another aspect of the funding means someone who suspects they might have the virus after having close contact with a positive case can take the appropriate action quicker.
As for Thunder Bay, Medical Officer of Health Janet DeMille tells us the money is bringing in a system that processes data faster, that will help with sharing of information with the provincial government.
The money is coming from the federal government’s recent announcement of $19-billion in transfer payments to the provinces and territories to help fight the pandemic.
