Rapid test kits in high demand in New Brunswick
It was a different scene on Monday morning in Moncton at one of the test kit pick-up sites as dozens lined up to get their hands on a free rapid-test kit.
Some people in line decided to wait until Monday to pick up a test, as Saturday's turn out in Moncton led to hour-long waits and kilometer-long stretches of traffic.
Approximately 4,500 kits were handed out in Moncton on Saturday within five hours, which forced the participating sites to close early. Due of the high demand, New Brunswick Public Health said it has doubled the number of kits this week to help keep up with the demand.
Monday was the first day that rapid-test kits were made available to the public, not only in circuit-breaker zones but across the entire province. Each person gets one COVID-19 rapid-test kit which has five tests within it.
Public health said that now all pickup centres will be open during their scheduled hours or until the daily supply has given out.
The president of the New Brunswick Medical Society Dr. Mark MacMillan said, "It's just one more tool in our tool kit against COVID-19."
The home tests are only for those who are asymptomatic and for those who have not tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
"Rapid testing is ongoing monitoring. So it's a snapshot in time," said MacMillan. "You're negative at that point, so you know you're safe to go out and do something. If you want to meet with a friend for dinner that sort of gives you that peace of mind that you're safe in the moment."
Liberal opposition leader Roger Melanson says he would've liked to see the province provide rapid tests to the public sooner.
"The rapid testing should've happened way earlier. We do know there were kits available over the summer for chambers of commerce," said Melanson.
Public health is advising anyone with a positive test result from a rapid test, to register for a PCR COVID-19 lab tests on the GNB website.
Rapid tests are expected to be handed out at pick-up sites across the province for the rest of the week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.