Rapid tests will soon be given to B.C. students, health officials say

Students in B.C. will soon be offered rapid tests to take home and a rollout to the general public may be coming next, health officials announced Tuesday.

Students in B.C. will soon be offered rapid tests to take home and a rollout to the general public may be coming next, health officials announced Tuesday.

During a COVID-19 briefing, Health Minister Adrian Dix said more than 10 million rapid tests are expected to arrive in the province in the weeks to come. In fact, nearly more than 2.8 million are already on their way.

While some rapid tests will be given to testing sites, acute-care centres and long-term care homes to replenish their supply, Dix said millions more will be distributed to schools.

The health minister explained that, "in the coming weeks," students will be given a take-home kit with five tests in it for their and their family's future use.

After that, tests may be offered to the general public, depending on availability.

"We will begin with seniors, carrying on our focus on higher-risk individuals, but we'll expand to the broader population as the inventory continues to arrive," Dix said.

Dix said the tests should be used only when a person is symptomatic.