Should rapid tests be used only if I have symptoms of COVID-19? If Quebec formally recommends it, experts point out, however, that they are nevertheless essential tools, even for asymptomatic cases. Rather, they are calling on the government to be transparent with the public.
“Right now people want to use rapid tests and testing centers to make sure they don’t have it, even if they’re not symptomatic, to go to a rally. We can no longer do that, the approach we had no longer works, ”admitted the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, at a press conference on Monday.
In a statement, his cabinet also insists that “rapid tests should be used by people with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19”.
Experts point out, however, that rapid tests do work when a person is contagious and has a high viral load. “And the viral load has nothing to do with the symptoms. You can be highly contagious, but have no symptoms. To say the opposite is a huge lie to the population, ”says professor at the School of Public Health of the University of Montreal (ESPUM) Roxane Borgès Da Silva.
“I understand that we have a scarcity of resources, and I also understand that PCR screening is not providing at this time. But that’s a bit like the situation we experienced with masks in April 2020. We were told that we should not wear a mask, when it was mainly because there was a shortage. “
I no longer advocate the truth and the explanation to the population. We should tell the population that we do not have the means for everyone to be tested every two days, quite simply.
Roxane Borgès Da Silva, professor at the School of Public Health of the University of Montreal
“It gives the wrong message. And it always ends up catching up with us when we do that. They are useful in the right context, even in asymptomatic patients ”, also judges for his part the Dr André Veillette, researcher at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) and member of the federal working group on COVID-19 vaccines.
Several experts advise people to use rapid tests even if they are asymptomatic, despite the advice of the government which, for many, seeks above all to control the stocks in place and to limit the abusive use of these tests. “It’s an element that, like many others, ultimately minimizes the chances that someone will transmit COVID,” says Mr. Veillette.
Call for calm
Quebec also took the opportunity to call for calm on Monday, when the rapid tests caused a real rush to pharmacies.
Parents who have already received boxes of tests, either from schools or a daycare service, are asked to give priority to people who have not yet received one.
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health and Social Services
To control the large influx to screening clinics, Quebec will henceforth ask Quebecers who have tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate themselves, then to contact, if possible themselves, other people with whom they may have been. in touch. The measure will, according to the government, relieve the employees of these centers, who are currently overworked.
He also warned that load shedding will probably be necessary in the health network. To date, more than half of the capacity of beds reserved for COVID-19 in the Quebec network is already occupied.
“We want to avoid emergency load shedding, so the [interventions chirurgicales], for example. We are not there at all, ”nonetheless maintained Minister Dubé, wanting to be reassuring.