Health Canada approves rapid test for COVID-19
Posted September 30, 2020 12:28 pm.
OTTAWA — Just a day after the federal government announced it would be purchasing 7.9-million units of the ID NOW rapid test from U.S.-based Abbott Diagnostics, Health Canada now confirms it has approved the test for use in the country.
These nasal swab test kits could provide results in as little as 15 minutes as opposed to the general one to three days that is happening at testing centres across the country.
A day after the Trudeau government announced it has a deal to buy 7.9-million rapid test kits from Abbott Rapid Diagnostics, Health Canada confirms it has now approved the rapid test device, which could give results in as little as 15 minutes. #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) September 30, 2020
The government has not given a timeline for delivery, but Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, says they will be working with provinces and territories to distribute them when available.
“The key priority is high risk and remote settings,” Tam said on Tuesday.
The Trudeau government did not give a timeline for when these test kits would be delivered to the provinces and territories. Yesterday, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam did say remote and high risk settings would have priority #cdnpoli #COVID19
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) September 30, 2020
Conservatives have accused the Liberals of dragging their feet on rapid tests, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government will not interfere with the scientific approval process.
RELATED: Portable COVID-19 test approved for human use in Canada, claims to provide results ‘in minutes’
The news comes as the country continues to deal with serious testing backlogs, as the second wave of COVID-19 sparks a significant spike in cases.
Meanwhile, Health Canada has not received any submissions yet for home testing kits.
According to Health Minister Patty Hajdu, the federal government is in talks with companies that produce those devices, asking them to apply for approval in Canada.
