REGINA - Saskatchewan is developing plans to expand the public distribution of rapid antigen self-tests for personal use to accelerate the detection of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the province, preserving provincial laboratory PCR testing for symptomatic and confirmation testing.
According to a release issued this week, the province expects to receive one million self-tests from the federal allocation by mid-October. The province is also considering purchasing additional Health Canada-approved rapid-tests for self-testing to supplement this supply. A sample of these kit types has been brought in for validation at the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory.
By mid-October, it is anticipated self-test kits will be made available to the general public via:
- Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency bases, municipal and First Nations' fire halls;
- Select Saskatchewan Health Authority locations on a schedule to be determined
Details including specifics on the locations as well as dates and hours of distribution will be announced once the supplies are delivered and available and the information will be posted to Saskatchewan.ca/covid-19.
The Ministry of Health is exploring partnerships to make kits available at accessible, public locations.
The Test to Protect program currently makes self-tests available in congregate settings such as long-term care, personal-care homes, shelters, detox facilities, group homes, schools and correctional facilities for screening and surveillance.
Saskatchewan Health Authority health care workers, dentists, pharmacists and first responders are able to access self-tests for self-screening. Businesses and organizations with fewer than 200 employees can receive a supply of tests through the SHA for workplace screening.
Using Rapid Antigen Self-Tests for Screening
The Test to Protect Program provides self-tests for asymptomatic screening and surveillance, with the expectation that tests are performed once or twice per week. Any presumptive positive results from self-testing requires a confirmatory lab PCR test.
Self-Test Expansion via Schools
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has provided a new supply of 475,000 self-tests to Saskatchewan elementary schools, expanding the self-test at home pilot throughout the province. The program targets households with students age 11 years and under as these students are not yet eligible for vaccination.
As of Oct. 4, if you have a child age 11 years and under attending school, you may contact that school about receiving at home, self-testing kits for the use of students age 11 years and under, as well as all household members. More information will soon arrive in your child's backpack.
