Plan for testing after N.B. lifts COVID-19 restrictions remains unclear
CBC
The New Brunswick government says it will continue monitoring COVID-19 in the province after restrictions end on March 14, but how it intends to do that isn't clear. Nor is its plan for testing.
"As we recover as individuals, families, and communities, Public Health will continue to conduct ongoing surveillance," Health Department spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane said in an email to CBC News when asked about testing after restrictions are lifted.
"Discussions are underway to determine how best to utilize COVID-19 testing going forward."
Monitoring will allow the government to manage current risks and remain ready to respond to new risks such as the emergence of variants of concern, Macfarlane said, without elaborating.
"Changes to ongoing management of COVID-19 will be communicated in advance, should they occur," he said.
Macfarlane did not respond to specific questions about testing after the province's emergency order ends and people will no longer have to wear masks or isolate when they test positive.
The questions were about such issues as the type of testing that will be available and to whom, whether people will still be encouraged to get rapid tests and report results, and what people should do if they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested.
For much of the pandemic, people with symptoms of COVID-19 could either call Tele-Care 811 or go online to book an appointment for lab-based PCR tests.
Facing record daily new case numbers in early January, however, the province moved to limit its PCR testing to people at least 50 years and people who either lived or worked in a high-risk setting such as a long-term care home or shelter.
Everyone else with symptoms was asked to take an at-home rapid test and report the result to Public Health if it came back positive.
It's not known what will become of the COVID-19 testing centres, which are operated by the two regional health authorities.
Kris McDavid, a spokesperson for Horizon Health Network, said "discussions with our partners" were still happening.
Vitalité Health Network did not respond to the question.
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