Ontario to expand use of rapid COVID-19 antigen tests amid surge in Omicron cases
CTV
The Ontario government has announced it will expand the use of rapid COVID-19 antigen tests as the provincial diagnostic testing network faces sustained pressure under the spread of the Omicron variant.
In documents released by the government on Thursday, rapid antigen tests (RATs) for the most vulnerable sectors are now being recommended for three purposes, including the practice of testing-to-work, testing people without symptoms as screening, and for people who are displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
The province says its test-to-work strategy will be used to support what it calls “work-self” isolation in critical work shortages in the highest risk settings, where staff are able to return to work instead of self-isolating at home.
Last month, the Ministry of Health recommended that asymptomatic health-care workers, who are deemed a close contact of someone with COVID-19, should return to work immediately so long as they undergo a PCR test “as soon as possible” and partake in a daily rapid testing program for a period of 10 days following the exposure.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said at the time that the new guidance was necessary to keep the “health system functioning” amid soaring case counts brought about by the spread of the Omicron variant.
