Ontario Is Finally Testing Everyone Who Has Any COVID-19 Symptoms
Premier Doug Ford wanted more testing, and more testing we're now getting. The province announced on May 14 the expansion of its testing guide for COVID-19 in Ontario. Now, finally, any resident who displays any symptoms of the disease can get tested for the virus.
Provincial Health Minister Christine Elliott announced the update in a Twitter statement on Thursday.
She explained this new guide for doctors will give them the chance to test people who show symptoms of the virus but don't have a connection to a "priority sector" like a hospital or vulnerable group.
"As we plan for a gradual reopening, today the Chief Medical Officer of Health will expand #COVID19 testing guidelines so that anyone with symptoms can be tested," reads part of Elliot's tweet.
"Doing so will help identify and contain new cases and monitor any shifts in community spread to keep Ontarians safe."
According to the May 2 update of the provincial testing guide, testing has been focused on select demographics until now.
Those included long-term care homes, hospital staff and patients, as well as their families, essential workers, Indigenous communities, cross-border workers, and those who work in or are residing in jails, shelters and group homes, since May 2.
Now that we’ve nearly completed testing all long-term care home staff and residents, we will also expand testing fo… https://t.co/OgErZs0yal— Christine Elliott (@Christine Elliott) 1589460170.0
In the May 14 COVID-19 update for the province, there are 258 new recorded cases. That is the lowest we've had since March 29, when they were 211.
Although the ability to do more testing comes as good news to the province, Ford's push to also reopen the province in a safe and effective way seems to be gathering pace.
Ford is set to provide further details on his suggested stage one of the reopening framework he presented, as things start to head in the right direction.
That was despite Ontario's Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams insisting later that same day that the province is not yet in a position where they are able to recommend that decision.
Ford has slammed the province's low testing rate in the past, but it seems like things have improved on that front since then.
The capacity has increased since March and is currently hovering around 20,000 a day in May according to CP24, something which Ford had vowed to accomplish.
As of May 14, the province has completed 492,487 tests in total for the virus.
*This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
