2023-08-02 13:19:50
While the Quebec region has been experiencing an increase in cases of COVID-19 for two weeks, screening tests are no longer available to the general public in pharmacies.
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“The latest results received concerning monitoring in wastewater show an increase in the detection of the viral load in wastewater from eastern Quebec City during the week of July 16 to 22, 2023”, specifies the spokesperson for the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Mariane Lajoie.
The number of cases detected by PCR test in the region is also increasing, she adds, specifying however that the cases counted are the cases confirmed by PCR tests, accessible only to part of the population.
Quebec Summer Festival
The Festival d’été de Québec would be no stranger to this increase, while large gatherings are “certainly conducive to the transmission of respiratory viruses”, mentions Mme Joy.
On the other hand, it indicates that it is “impossible to infer a precise cause for this upward trend, since the Public Health Department does not have the necessary data to do so”.
No increase should be noted with regard to the number of hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care in the Québec region.
Find rapid tests
Since May 15, free access in pharmacies to rapid tests for COVID-19 has been reserved for people at high risk of complications, including people aged 60 and over, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people, as well as to clients benefiting from free medication under the public prescription drug insurance plan.
For the general public, it is rather necessary to go to the screening and vaccination centers, which are only open a few hours a day, to obtain them for free.
On Tuesday, only the designated Charest screening center, located at 1275 Charest Boulevard West, was open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The other center, located in Baie-Saint-Paul, then opened in the followingnoon, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
It is also possible to obtain rapid tests at the vaccination centers located in Laurier Québec and at the Galeries de la Capitale, open one day during the weekend, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The complete list of screening and vaccination centers is available on the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale website.
90 million tests stored
For its part, Health Canada says it has a reserve of 90 million rapid tests, in case of future waves of COVID-19.
Of this number, 50 million are intended for the provinces and territories, should the need arise, we are told.
No increase on the South Shore
In addition, no increase in cases has been recorded on the side of the South Shore of Quebec, underlines the CISSS of Chaudière-Appalaches.
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