Quebec expanding rapid COVID-19 testing in elementary school to 10 regions
Quebec says the rollout of rapid tests for COVID-19 in elementary schools will now extend to 10 regions.
The Ministry of Health said it wants to prevent outbreaks and minimize classroom closures with the tests, which provide a result within 15 minutes.
Preschool and elementary schools will begin administering the rapid tests by the end of September, "when they are ready, once the training is completed," the government said, noting that meetings with many stakeholders have already taken place.
The rollout will reach nearly 1,600 schools and will continue in all Quebec elementary schools "within the next few weeks," the Ministry of Health said late Friday afternoon in a press release.
Daniel Paré, director of the Quebec vaccination campaign, was given the mandate to coordinate this vast deployment operation.
The 10 regions targeted are those where the risk of an outbreak is greatest due to the epidemiological situation:
- Mauricie
- Centre-du-Québec
- Eastern Townships
- Montreal
- Outaouais
- Chaudière-Appalaches: Beauce-Sartigan, Appalaches and Etchemins
- Laval
- Lanaudière
- Laurentians
- Montérégie.
The tests will be used for students who develop COVID-19 symptoms during the day and priority will be given in high-transmission areas.
Parents will be asked for permission for the testing by completing a consent form provided by the school. Without such consent, no testing can be done.
In the case of a positive test, the student will be isolated and the parent will be contacted by phone so that he or she can pick up the child, the ministry said. The child will have to take a second test at a testing center.
More than 155,000 tests have been distributed to the network. More tests will eventually be delivered to meet the needs of schools without delay, it said.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 17, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.