(The Canadian Press)

By Troy Gillard

as cases continue to rise...

Alberta expanding pharmacy testing program for COVID-19

Jul 30, 2020 | 4:16 PM

As the number of cases across Alberta continues to rise by around 100 per day, the province is expanding its asymptomatic pharmacy testing program so that more people can be tested close to home.

Alberta reported another 133 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday to bring the total number to 10,603.

The number of active cases in the province is 1,408, a slight drop from Wednesday. Recoveries are up by 130 to 9,113.

There are 91 people hospitalized in the province because of the virus, an increase of four from Wednesday. Eighteen of them are in intensive care, an increase of one.

The province completed 8,670 COVID-19 tests over the last 24 hours.

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Five more deaths were reported Thursday, all of them at the Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre in Edmonton.

In the Central Zone, the number of active cases has risen to 201. That’s 26 more than Wednesday’s update. The zone has seen 195 recoveries, an increase of 14, and there are 16 people in hospital, a decrease of three, including five people in intensive care.

Red Deer remains with eight active cases as of Thursday’s report and the number of recoveries in the city is listed at 47, an increase of three.

There are now 24 active cases in Stettler County (decrease of three), seven in Red Deer County, five in Sylvan Lake, eight in Lacombe County, one in the city of Lacombe, three in Ponoka County, two in Rocky Mountain House, one in Sundre, one in Mountain View County, seven in Kneehill County, nine in Starland County and 10 in the County of Paintearth.

The map showing the location of all active cases in the province can be found here.

The pilot program to provide asymptomatic testing at community pharmacies began in June. Dr. Deena Hinshaw said the project was a success, with more than 10,000 people safely tested at the pilot pharmacies in the last month.

“Based on the success we’re expanding the program to any pharmacy that wants to offer testing and is able to meet the safety requirements,” the chief medical officer of health said Thursday. “Testing can begin as soon as the pharmacy is enrolled and receives the necessary test supplies from Alberta Precision Labs.”

A list of the pharmacies providing testing is available online and currently includes four in Red Deer: Royal Canadian Superstore, West Park IDA, Save on Foods (north) and London Drugs. Hinshaw says that list will be updated as more pharmacies enroll.

Hinshaw asked for patience from Albertans as the voluntary program is rolled out, explaining pharmacies will need time to enroll and begin testing.

Asymptomatic testing is particularly encouraged:

– Before or after spending time with individuals who have a higher risk of serious health outcomes (e.g., anyone over 65 or with underlying medical conditions)

– Before or after travelling internationally, attending an event with recent travellers or hosting them.

– Before or after participating in activities or events that may have put you at a higher risk of exposure (e.g., a large gathering where physical distancing was not followed).

– For frontline workers who have regular interactions with Albertans, particularly those at higher risk of serious outcomes.

In addition to participating pharmacies, anyone who wants to get tested can continue to book an appointment online with the AHS assessment tool.

(With file from Chris Brown – CHAT News Today)