By Sheldon Spackman

COVID Postponement

Local HIV Testing Day event postponed

Jun 25, 2020 | 1:51 PM

Local plans to mark HIV Testing Day this weekend have been delayed until later this year.

Kevin Cunningham with Turning Point in Red Deer says the decision aligns with directives from the Canadian Aids Society (CAS) which thanks all participating organizations and health agencies across Canada for their understanding.

CAS officials had planned to have the event from June 21-27, but have now postponed the event until September, with more information to come.

“National HIV Testing Day was first launched in Canada on June 27, 2018, in order to highlight the importance of testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI), dismantle the stigma surrounding HIV, and encourage Canadians to take charge of their sexual health by getting tested,” reads a statement from (CAS). “The first national HIV Testing Day proved to be successful, testing over 800 Canadians for HIV and other STBBI. Following an even more successful Testing Day in 2019, with testing numbers well exceeding the first year, CAS and the rest of the Testing Day steering committee are pleased to announce the expansion of the campaign to a national HIV Testing Week.”

With Testing Week, CAS officials anticipate being able to grow their capacity for encouraging Canadians to get tested by upsizing the number of participating organizations, creating more testing events, and having more people who will #KnowTheirStatus!

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In 2019, Turning Point teamed up with the Primary Care Network’s Street Clinic to make Red Deer one of 70 communities across Canada taking part in HIV Testing Day.