Dr. Deena Hinshaw (Alberta Health)

By Justin Goulet

Alberta making change to COVID-19 testing

Mar 23, 2020 | 7:27 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The provincial government is implementing new COVID-19 testing measures.

Travellers who returned to Alberta after March 12 and have mild symptoms will no longer be tested for the novel coronavirus. Instead, the advised given to all Albertans will apply to them, and that is to self-isolate at home and away from others.

The province said this change is effective going forward. Therefore, anyone who has already been told by Health Link that they will be tested will still get tested.

“Changing our testing protocols will allow us to focus Alberta’s testing capacity on those most at risk. This is consistent with the approach happening across Canada,” said Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw in a release.

“It will enable us to strategically use our testing resources. Our new approach reflects the fact that the most important thing anyone can do if they have mild symptoms isn’t to get tested – it’s to stay home and self-isolate.”

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The province noted that testing will be prioritized for the following individuals, if they are symptomatic:

· People who are hospitalized with respiratory illness

· Residents of continuing care and other similar facilities

· People who returned from travelling abroad between March 8 and March 12 (before the self-isolation protocols were in place)

· Health-care workers with respiratory symptoms (this testing will begin later this week)

The province said anyone with synptoms who does not fit those categories should stay at home and self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days from the start of their symptoms, or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.

Alberta Health’s online self-assessment tool has been updated to reflect the change in testing for travellers returning to the province. The self-assessment tool can be accessed here.

Additionally, Alberta Health Services is building extra capacity to be able to offer advice to returning travellers with symptoms, ensuring they are following proper medical directions and monitoring their symptoms. These resources are anticipated to be in place later this week.

More on the province’s response to COVID-19 can be found here.