Ministry staff refuse to answer questions as B.C. health researchers offered rapid tests for a party
CTV
Ministry of Health staff are denying that some health researchers were promised rapid antigen tests to screen for COVID-19 at a Christmas party, even though CTV News Vancouver has obtained the internal memo outlining the plan.
Ministry of Health staff are denying that some health researchers were promised rapid antigen tests to screen for COVID-19 at a Christmas party, even though CTV News Vancouver has obtained the internal memo outlining the plan.
In total, three questions were posed to the ministry, and despite follow-up attempts to address the quantity, distribution and availability of rapid tests, communications staff did not respond.
The provincial government will not provide rapid antigen tests to the public despite having millions in storage, but in an email about a holiday party, the B.C. Centre on Substance Use told employees that “as part of the safety planning, (Providence Health Care) will be supplying … rapid COVID tests” for their in-person gathering next week.
“No, that is incorrect, BCCSU is not being provided rapid tests for their holiday party,” insisted a Ministry of Health spokesperson nearly six hours after CTV News referenced the memo in an email inquiring about rapid tests. The questions CTV News asked were:
While the ministry refused to answer those questions, the provincial health officer shot down the idea of providing families with rapid tests ahead of the holiday season, pointing out she has decided that the federally-provided tests will only be used in certain situations – typically for people who have COVID-19 symptoms.
"I think my focus is on where they make a difference in terms of a parent assessing whether a child should go into school today. We've been using them in more remote communities where access to PCR testing can be a challenge,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry on Tuesday, adding they’re also being used for care home visitors and occasionally in school outbreaks and other situations.
“We are looking at whether it makes sense to have rapid tests available for people … It is an evolving issue.”
