On Tuesday of this week the provincial government launched the online reporting platform for rapid tests that they have been talking about since changing their COVID-19 testing protocols earlier this month. Using the tool, which can be found at the quebec.ca website’s COVID-19 section under the heading “Reporting rapid test results,” people who have taken a test at home will now be able to submit their results to help with the statistical tracking of the virus’ spread in the community.
Test users are asked to record their result whether it is positive or negative, in order to provide the most complete picture possible of the number of active cases in the province. Test results for a child or someone who is the subject of a legal guardianship is also possible on the site, and the service is also available to those who have no medicare card.
The services of provincial testing centres have been reserved for priority groups since the beginning of the year to account for the high demand associated with the omicron variant.
The Province of Quebec reported 3,270 people in hospital with COVID-19 on Wednesday, a total decrease of eight compared to Tuesday’s information. The number of people in intensive care also decreased by 11, to 252.
There were 73 new deaths recorded across the province, bringing the total to 13,009 since the start of the pandemic.
Wednesday’s update from the Eastern Townships included 165 hospitalizations with 20 in intensive care. The number of deaths in the region also increased by three to 493.
Third dose coverage in the townships increased to 46.3 per cent of people already considered “adequately vaccinated,” and the number of children aged 5-11 in the region who have received a second dose of the vaccine increased to 11.8 per cent. First dose coverage among the youngest age group did not change significantly, rising by only a tenth of a percentage point to 57.5 per cent. That overall coverage ranges between 62.7 per cent in the La Pommeraie sub-region to 37 per cent in the Des Sources area.
Rapid test reporting system now live
By Gordon Lambie
