A partnership between the provincial and federal government will allow northern Manitoba COVID-19 tests to be completed quickly in the north.
Four northern health centres, not including Flin Flon, will be receiving GeneXpert machines. The machine can process viral tests, including for COVID-19 and the common flu, in as little as an hour.
The new machines' delivery has been overseen by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Manitoba First Nation Pandemic Response Co-ordination Team, in partnership with the First Nations Inuit Health Branch.
“Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within northern communities have been a high priority since efforts to fight this virus within our province began several months ago,” said Manitoba health minister Cameron Friesen in a news release.
“This new equipment... will be used to quickly confirm the presence of the virus in those patients who may require additional support to self-isolate.”
The new machines will be emphasized for people who may not be able to easily self-isolate if they test positive for COVID-19 and have a high risk of transmitting the disease. Patients with several COVID-19 symptoms or other risk factors for the virus will be eligible for the quicker testing. All northern Manitoba patients not in those groups will continue with normal testing procedures, including tests transported to Winnipeg for further testing and confirmation.
Under the plan, machines will be installed in Thompson, The Pas, Norway House and Peguis. Three machines have already been installed in Peguis, Thompson and Norway House. Officials say the machine set for The Pas will be up and running “in the coming weeks.”
“Residents throughout the north are to be commended for their vigilance in preventing the spread of this virus in our region,” said Dr. Michael Isaac, medical officer of health for the NHR in the release.
“Targeted rapid-response testing provides public health officials with another tool that will help us quickly suppress the spread of the virus if and when it reappears in our region.”
Non-essential travel to northern Manitoba is still banned by the province, with the exception of people travelling directly to campgrounds and lodges. The province announced the proposed third phase of their reopening plan, including most northern travel restrictions remaining in place, on June 11.
Three cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the NHR during the pandemic.
