The Manitoba Government is detailing how it plans to distribute a recently received shipment of rapid COVID-19 testing supplies.
Premier Brian Pallister says the rapid testing units will be distributed “where they can benefit our public health system the most.”
Manitoba received 13 rapid test devices, called the Abbot ID NOW, with enough supplies for 4,000 tests — most of which will be sent to remote communities like Swan River, The Pas, Churchill, Thompson, Lynn Lake, Gillam and Flin Flon.
The province says rapid tests may be valuable as an early screening tool to identify possible outbreaks as quickly as possible — but they can’t replace traditional COVID-19 testing in all circumstances because they can only be used if a person has symptoms.
While it provides almost immediate results with the use of a nasal swab, a rapid test is less accurate, and all rapid tests still must be confirmed by traditional testing.
