SHA seeks to decrease stigma of virus testing
Risk of contracting COVID at province’s screening sites very low, official says
Tracy Sanden was asymptomatic, but wanted a COVID -19 test so she could better relate to the patients she regularly sees.
As a Saskatchewan Health Authority employee, Sanden has worked at the Regina coronavirus testing site, arranging visits for patients.
Talking so much about the process, she wanted “to have that firsthand experience to be able to share and strengthen that relationship with the people I’ve been talking to,” Sanden said Friday during a SHA media availability via video conference.
The reason for this session, the SHA stated, was to “decrease stigma” and increase education around COVID -19 testing.
Sanden and Monica Reinkens, a patient family adviser who also sought testing, agree it’s a bit uncomfortable, but it doesn’t hurt.
For children and others who might require special treatment, there’s the nasopharyngeal swab, a long, thin swab with a flexible tip. The patient tilts their head back 70 degrees, and the swab is inserted into their nose.
The more common test here is the nasal and oral swab, where a cotton swab touches the back of the throat as a patient’s tongue is pushed down with a tongue depressor. The same swab is then inserted into each nostril.
Dr. Jessica Minion, acting provincial clinical lead for public health (laboratory medicine), said both methods are equally effective at getting a “specimen” needed to test for COVID-19.
To seek testing, Reinkens explained, she called Healthline 8-1-1, then assessment centre staff phoned her. She got the address and was told what to expect for her visit to the testing site.
“Having that knowledge of what to expect when you get here really eases a lot of fears,” said Sanden, “and I think it’s perfectly normal to be fearful or scared or nervous or whatever you’re feeling coming into the test site.”
At the site, at the entrance of the parking lot, an attendant met Reinkens and gave her a mask. She waited in her car until someone came to bring her into the testing facility. In the testing room, a nurse asked questions from a safe distance, then did the test.
Then Reinkens was escorted out of the building.
“In my case, it took about five minutes from the time I got to the testing site until I was done. And then the result of the test, I got within 24 hours,” said Reinkens.
Staff are “very diligent” with personal protective equipment, said Chris Cave, the manager and site lead of Regina’s testing centre.
“When we’ve walked people through the process, it eases some of their nervousness of maybe coming in to know what a controlled environment it is,” said Sanden. “I think a lot of people think about a doctor’s waiting room, where people are going to get coughed on, and the risk of contracting COVID -19 within a test or assessment site is really low.”
Sanden said the Regina testing centre is in an isolated location. People concerned about privacy do have the option of travelling to another community to be tested, if they have transportation.
“You can have the test done anywhere in the province if you like; it doesn’t have to be in your home community,” said Sanden.
COVID-19 testing is now available to anyone who is asymptomatic and working outside their home. It’s also available to people with compromised immune systems, those anticipating hospital admission of 24-plus hours, those living in vulnerable settings, and health-care workers.
Anyone with symptoms can also be tested. If someone is symptomatic, the SHA recommends seeking after at least 48 hours, as it contributes to the accuracy of the test.
VISITOR RESTRICTIONS EASED IN BIRTH UNITS
People giving birth in Saskatchewan health facilities will now be allowed two designated family members or support persons during the experience.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority eased these COVID-19 restrictions on Friday. Previously, one support person was allowed.
As with previous restrictions, the support persons must be consistent throughout the patient’s stay, and cannot be switched out for another person.
The support persons can include partners, family members, coaches, doulas or cultural support persons, as long as they total two or less. No other visitors are allowed postpartum.
All maternal patients and their designated family members/support persons will be screened for COVID-19 upon arrival and be required to have a temperature check, wear a mask, participate in hand hygiene and follow physical distancing guidelines.
Any support person exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed.
All maternal patients will be offered an optional COVID -19 swab upon admission. Family members/ support persons will not be offered a COVID -19 swab.
THREE NEW CASES
The government announced three new recorded cases of COVID -19 on Friday.
One new case is in the Saskatoon region, one is in the far north region and one is in the south region.
The south region has had relatively few cases of COVID-19: Of the provincial total 663 cases (including active, recovered and 13 deceased), the south has logged just 19 cases; one of those was on Wednesday.
Saskatchewan currently has 23 active cases after testing. One person is in intensive care, in Saskatoon.
To date, 54,508 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.
CLEARWATER RIVER COVID CASES
The Roy Romanow Provincial Lab has yet to process tests of contacts at a wake and funeral at Clearwater River Dene Nation this week. Two attendees tested positive for COVID-19.
The Northern Inter-tribal Health Authority and Saskatchewan Health Authority are advising anyone who attended the wake on June 10 and funeral on June 11 to immediately self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days from the date of attendance.