Province to ramp up testing

HALIFAX — In the coming weeks, Nova Scotia will ramp up its testing capacity for COVID-19.

Premier Stephen McNeil announced Tuesday that by the third week of October, the IWK will expand its primary assessment centre to double its capacity and increase the speed of testing for children. Primary assessment centres around the province with larger locations will also be expanded, to allow for more tests under increased hours and additional staff.

Lab capacity in Halifax will be increased so it can process 2,500 tests per day by midNovember.

Sydney is to also receive equipment in early November, so tests can be processed on the island as opposed to being sent to the lab in Halifax.

Nova Scotia reported no new COVID-19 cases in the province in its daily update on Tuesday. On Monday, Nova Scotia Health Authority's labs completed 482 tests.

Three active cases remain in the province as of Tuesday and one person is in the ICU. The latest case was identified on Friday in the province's central zone, which includes the Halifax area. It's related to travel outside Canada and the individual has been selfisolating.

Also starting today, the province will roll out the gargle test for COVID-19 at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

The saline gargle test is meant to simplify the testing process in comparison to the sometimes uncomfortable nasopharyngeal swab. The test will be used to diagnose the virus in children ages four to 18. If successful, the test will become available for children at all primary assessment centres.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, said the nasal swab test will still be available for children, as some are not capable of taking the gargle test.