Long waits for COVID-19 tetsting is causing frustration, but already benefitting hospitals in treating the virus. (Canadian Press)

By Josh Ryan

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Expanded COVID-19 testing causing delays, but aiding physicians

Jul 27, 2020 | 4:40 PM

Symptomatic or not, the province has assured anyone can be tested. The new initiative has led to many seeking tests, but that increase has led to higher wait times for scheduled testing.

Residents across the province took to social media to vent their frustrations after waiting as long as seven days before hearing back after calling 811. Opposition NDP leader Ryan Meili said the government needs to be more proactive about reducing wait times for testing.

“It’s inexcusable that we are months into the pandemic, but people in the province are having to wait hours on 811 to speak with someone, days more to be called back, only to be told that they will have to wait a week before they can schedule a test,” Meili said.

Premier Scott Moe said the province has not yet reached its testing capacity and has plans to deliver tests in a timelier manner.

“We’re actively looking at what we can do to increase our capacity — not necessarily increase the number of tests that are done, but increase our capacity,” he said. “So that these individuals would be able to potentially access a test a little quicker.”

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Dr. Mandiangu Nsungu, Medical Health Officer in North Battleford, said having expanded testing is beneficial to doctors, nurses and other health care workers, giving them more clarity in dealing with patients. However, he said the most important factor is it will help protect the general public, by finding positive cases as quickly as possible.

“The more you test, the more you find, the more you can isolate and the more you can control the situation,” Nsungu said. “It will be very instrumental in finding and diagnosing people who may have mild symptoms and those who are truly asymptomatic.”

Even with more workers assigned to help on 811 calls, some minor delays are likely to occur with priority testing.

Nsungu said patients who qualify for priority testing are symptomatic, are health care workers, or work at long term care facilities.

Another topic on social media is whether the province will soon have antibody tests available. Nsungu said there are a few available, but noted it’s not practical to expand that type of testing across the province at this moment, due to limited knowledge of the virus.

“So for the time being, those tests are still mainly being used as research tools,” he said.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports