There is confusion around the new guidelines for PCR testing, so many citizens still appear in walk-in clinics today, even though these tests are reserved for essential staff.
Read more: Live | Recent developments in the corona virus
“I did not know we should not come to the test anymore!” The rules change every day and it is impossible to follow, ”said a citizen we met today in front of the Ru Savio Screening Clinic in Montreal.
On Tuesday, the Quebec government announced that PCR tests will now be assigned to those with symptoms who work in a health network in direct contact with patients.
Photo by Clara Loiseau
Clinics now offer coupons for testing later in the day.
Despite the new order, many appeared at the gates of screening clinics today. Faced with traffic jams, the staff distributed appointment coupons for coming back for testing later in the day Newspaper.
“We do not have the ability to verify who the essential worker is, so we still accept everyone,” explained a company employee based in Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Photo by Clara Loiseau
Before Hôtel-Dieu, an employee handed out appointment coupons to people who came to the screening clinic.
Same situation as the Hotel-Dew screening clinic. Many citizens appeared without an appointment and were given coupons.
According to the Ministry of Health, “the new guidelines for PCR testing will be implemented very soon in the next few days.”
However, some companies gradually began to use the new measure. At the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Verdun, an employee says that only those with the most severe symptoms and CIUSSS staff are screened.
“If you are not feeling well, you will be asked to do a quick check and isolate yourself at home for ten days,” he added.
For many experts, the government has no choice but to implement this new measure.
For a professor of biological sciences at UQAM, Benoit Barbie, it is important to identify those who are most in need. However, without this valuable daily data, Quebec loses an important clue to monitoring the evolution of the situation.
“Now we have to rely only on the increase in the number of hospital admissions, while at the same time it has allowed us to have a perspective on the course of the epidemics that have had an impact on the number of hospital admissions,” he lamented.
