By Chris Brown

results taking too long, Hinshaw says

Alberta pauses asymptomatic testing for COVID-19

Oct 20, 2020 | 5:47 PM

Saying that test results are not getting back to Albertans quick enough, the province’s top doctor has announced a “significant” change to testing that she called a critical step to improving COVID-19 control in the province.

“Effectively immediately we will be pressing pause on all asymptomatic testing in those who have no known exposure,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Tuesday. “This is an important and necessary step that will help us reduce testing wait times, get results to Albertans and limit the spread.”

With cold and flu symptoms mirroring COVID-19 symptoms, labs became overwhelmed in the past few weeks by the increase in tests.

Hinshaw said even with a September shift to only doing asymptomatic testing among priority groups, wait times for results have not decreased as much as they need to in order to use lab test information to prevent spread in an optimal way.

Alberta Health Services and community pharmacies will no longer be booking new appointments for asymptomatic people with no known exposure and only appointments up until Nov. 4 will be honoured.

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Only 0.11 per cent of more than 659,000 tests conducted on asymptomatic Albertans with no known exposure have come back positive, according to the province.

Tests can be booked online at AHS.ca or call HealthLink at 811. Albertans with health concerns but no symptoms or exposure are encouraged to talk to their care provider.

On Halloween, Hinshaw recommended against large parties but that trick-or-treating should be low-risk in small cohort groups as long as the regular health guidelines are followed.

She added COVID-19 is not going anywhere and AHS will be nimble and adapt its approach as needed.

Hinshaw also said on Thursday that technical challenges are part of the holdup in making the federal contact tracing app available in Alberta, namely transitioning the info from the provincial app to the federal one. She said discussions continue to take place.

(With file from Chris Brown – CHAT News Today)