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Reporting of COVID-19 test results is still taking far too long

In today's Free Press, it is reported that "Roussin said, people are waiting an average of 55 hours to receive the results of a routine COVID-19 test."    Fifty-five hours is far too long.   Ninety per cent of results need to be reported in 24 hours if testing and contact tracing are to be successful.  

Consider this.  Individuals exposed to a person who is has the COVID-19 infection can start transmitting the infection to others on the fourth day afterwards.  This means that reporting of test  results needs to be done in 24 hours and contact tracing needs to be done in the next 24 hours if testing and contact tracing are to effective in helping to control the pandemic.  The third day is needed to catch  the last ten percent of cases missed on the first two days.  An average of 55 hours is far too long.  It means that about half of people do not receive their results for more than 2 days and this means it is likely the contact tracing will not be done before the virus spreads to others.   When the virus spreads to others the pandemic spreads. 

We are now twelve months into the pandemic.   This state of affairs, with testing taking far too long is completely unacceptable and shows how badly we have been let down by the Pallister government.  It also shows why the COVID-19  pandemic continues at an unacceptable and unsustainably high level in Manitoba   It  is why so many stores can not be open.  It is also why we  are all going to have to remain in our homes over Christmas instead of being  able  to visit  with family and friends.


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