New rapid-test pickup registration process causes confusion
CBC
The province's new online registration process for acquiring COVID-19 rapid-test kits is causing some confusion.
People must now book an appointment to pick up the test kits at one of the distribution centres.
Many people standing in line at the Saint John site Wednesday did not know about the change, including a front-line worker, who tests regularly because of the risk of exposure.
Tuesday's daily COVID-19 news release about new testing and isolation measures that took effect at 11:59 p.m. made no mention of the change, but it was confirmed to CBC News on Tuesday night by Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane. No reasons were provided.
"Why wouldn't you tell anyone about this in advance?" Megan Mitton, the MLA for Memramcook-Tantramar and the Green Party's health critic, questioned on social media.
"Why do communications from government continue to be confusing?"
Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said, "it's a very rapidly evolving situation."
"We're building this as it's unfolding," she said. "So we want to make sure that we have everything in place, you know, behind the scenes with respect to what needs to be done on the website, the logistics, the operations of all this.
"So those pieces all take time and work and effort. So again, you have to have all those things lined up to announce and prepare people."
People who show up Wednesday without an appointment won't be turned away, she said, because the province is "in this transition period."
But they will need an appointment moving forward, which will help avoid long lineups in the winter, she added.
The Horizon Health Network posted on social media that the change will take effect Thursday and will remain in effect "until further notice."
If people can't book an appointment online because they don't have access to a computer or the internet, they can call Tele-Care 811 "at this time," said Department of Health spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.
The booking process itself, which includes a questionnaire, is also causing confusion, because of some contradictory messaging.
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