More active testing called for in Saskatchewan

REGINA

A former deputy medical health officer in Saskatchewan believes the province should more actively test for COVID-19 as it prepares to lift restrictions on public interaction.

Dr. Anne Huang worked for both the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Health Canada and says the government’s overall plan for reopening retail shops and personal-care services next month provides thoughtful guidance.

Saskatchewan is the first province to outline details for easing measures meant to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. But other provinces, including Manitoba, have indicated their own reopening plans could come soon.

Saskatchewan has said testing, contact tracing and physical distancing are all key to keep the infection rate low as some activities resume.

“I do hope that they will adopt a more active testing strategy,” Dr. Huang said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.

“The question is have we cast the net wide enough and have we cast the net in the right place?”

Huang believes essential workers, such as grocery store cashiers, police officers and firefighters, should be systematically tested even if they don’t show COVID-19 symptoms.

There’s evidence showing people are more infectious at the start of the illness, a couple of days before showing any symptoms, and right now Saskatchewan’s testing relies on people self-assessing for symptoms, she said.

“That means people are not necessarily going to be tested when they’re most infectious or if they do not show any infection,” she said.