B.C. to receive 10M rapid tests in next 3 weeks, 5M less than previously expected
Millions of rapid tests are expected to arrive in B.C. within the next few weeks, but it's significantly less than what was previously expected last week.
At a news conference Tuesday, Health Minister Adrian Dix said that the expected rapid antigen test deliveries from the federal government have changed since the province's last update.
B.C. is now expecting to receive 10,868,720 tests by mid-February.
"This is a reduction from the 15,719,000 expected as of last Friday," said Dix. "But that said, 10 million is a lot of tests and we're very appreciative to receive them."
The health minister also gave an update on the overall picture of rapid tests in the province. Here's a quick look by the numbers.
To date, B.C. has received 6,931,175 rapid tests and have deployed 4,130,656 of those tests to key areas.
"This leaves an inventory of 2,800,00 tests, 972,355 of which were received over the last four days," said Dix.
"About 550,000 of the current inventory are not suitable for deployment for takeaway or personal use. That leaves us 2,242,000 tests in our current inventory that are suitable for self-administered use."
Dix added that this week, the federal government will also be working to deliver more than 2,500,000 test kits to the following areas:
- 351,000 for distribution to COVID-19 testing sites across B.C. to replenish their supply;
- 603,750 to replenish supplies at acute care centres for symptomatic health-care workers and Health Authority programs;
- 210,000 to long-term care to replenish and continue to support symptomatic staff and to test visitors;
- 50,000 to assisted living to support symptomatic staff and to test visitors;
- 258,752 to support rural remote and Indigenous communities;
- 300,000 more test kits to support K to 12 education;
- 311,000 to support businesses and organizations as part of the point of care screening program.
"As more tests arrive, we will continue to push the areas in greatest need and expand access across post-secondary and other areas," said Dix.
"The BCCDC will be distributing rapid test kits to post-secondary institutions for employees and students with COVID-19 symptoms."
The health minister added that the province will also be allocating more than 250,000 rapid tests for the childcare sector and are working with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to determine the best use and delivery of tests for licenced childcare operators across B.C.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.