Anglade wants rapid testing system for construction sector, schools
The leader of the opposition is calling on the Legault government to immediately put in place a rapid COVID-19 testing system in companies, the construction sector and schools.
With 600,000 students returning to class Monday, Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade said it is “imperative” the government establish the exact location of new transmissions, and that means stepping up testing.
The curfew rules that kicked in Saturday, while helpful, will not smash growth in new cases alone, she noted.
“While Quebecers respect the curfew and cooperate by respecting the additional measures to protect our health-care system and save lives, it is imperative to recall any winning health-care strategy must also take into consideration the location of outbreaks,” Anglade said in a statement.
“It's unreal to think the curfew is one of the only solutions to curb the transmission of COVID-19 in Quebec.”
Anglade goes on to say the government should “rapidly deploy” a massive testing strategy, including making use of fast tests in areas where there are risks of outbreaks: the manufacturing sector, construction industry and schools.
“The premier has an enormous responsibility and a duty to put in place all measures that can flatten the curve; if not, the efforts Quebecers are making will not have an effect,” Anglade said.
Anglade's comments come as the number of new COVID-19 cases grew by 1,869 Monday. A total of 51 deaths were recorded and hospitalizations surged.
At a news conference later, both Health Minister Christian Dubé and the director of public health, Horacio Arruda insisted Quebec's testing system is fully operational and responding to the demand.
Dubé also responded to a Journal de Montréal report Monday that revealed Quebec has 1.3 million so-called rapid tests sitting in boxes unused despite the pandemic.
Dubé said Quebec currently can test 35,000 to 40,000 people a day using the conventional PCR testing system and in fact does not need the additional capacity. He added the fast tests sound good but are less reliable. “Under the circumstances now we don't need to use them,” Dubé said. “When we need to do massive tests, the ones we have now respond very well.”
Arruda, however, also repeated his warning that parents should not hesitate to get their children tested in the event they present symptoms. With the flu almost non-existent in Quebec, the symptoms are more likely the COVID-19 virus.
“There is no problem of access to tests in Quebec now, as we saw in the springtime,” Arruda said. “And actually there is no cold going around. So if you are sick, if you have symptoms of a cold, if your son is sick, please, get isolated, go take a test.
“It's very important. We see that people are getting tested less. It's not because there is no capacity.”
Last week the government ditched its initial policy of telling parents to wait 24 hours before having their children tested.