RAPID TEST KITS SCARCE IN ALBERTA

By Chandrayee Roy Choudhury, Canada: Pharmacies across the province are completely out of rapid test kits to detect COVID-19, according to data collected by the Alberta Blue Cross, and the government says additional supplies for pharmacies aren’t expected until at least Jan 17.

   Some Alberta health service clinics in smaller communities are also handing out the kits and can be found on the government’s website. Alberta health service, spokesperson Kerry Williamson said this is only while supplies last and listing a location on that website does not mean the clinic definitely has kits.

   With Omicron cases spiking throughout Alberta, the government tightened eligibility for PCR tests in December , shifting the focus to people who are high risk and asking others to use rapid tests.

   The free rapid test kits being offered by the government became a hot commodity the minute they were released that month with some pharmacies reporting that they had given out their entire first shipment within days.

More recently, the government promised millions of rapid test kits for staff and students in Alberta schools but some of that supply won’t be available until a week after in-person classes have already started.