a group of 213 scientists, professors, health-care workers and patients published an open letter to the legault government thursday calling on quebec to roll out rapid covid-19 tests to curb outbreaks more quickly and to step up its communications strategy.
in the letter, the signatories from institutions including the université de montréal, mcgill, laval, uqam and the institut national de santé publique du québec (inspq), note the partial closure of businesses and restrictions on gatherings have failed to stem the increase in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
advertisement
quebec has been hesitant to use the tests widely because it fears their lack of sensitivity could clear people for covid-19 when they actually have the virus. but da silva said the tests are close to 90-per-cent accurate when used on patients who are in an extremely contagious phase, which is crucial to stopping the most dangerous transmitters. the tests could be used at wokplaces, high schools and chslds, or be made available at pharmacies and doctors’ offices to allow the public to get tested quickly, da silva said.
advertisement