(Quebec) The Legault government has in its sights the distribution of rapid screening tests – or self-tests – in Quebec households before the holiday season. Quebec hopes to get its hands on at least 10 million rapid tests from Ottawa.
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, wished on Friday to receive the next confirmation from the federal government that the province will receive 10 million rapid tests for COVID-19. He hopes to have the material quickly to orchestrate the distribution among the population with the holiday season.
Will these tests be sold in pharmacies? It is too early to tell. Quebec is currently examining how it could distribute them to individuals. Minister Dubé said details on the subject will be presented next week. Mr. Dubé said on Friday that he had advised the Treasury Board to prepare to negotiate a purchase price with Ottawa.
So far, the federal government has distributed rapid screening tests free of charge to the provinces.
New Brunswick notably has a network of collection points where citizens can obtain a free rapid test to use at home. Saskatchewan also gives these tests, provided by the federal government, to its people. Ontario has announced that it will distribute 11 million to its public schools before the holidays, so that every student has five at home, to use while on vacation or back to school.
For now, Quebec only uses rapid tests in schools and businesses. Childcare services will also soon be able to provide one to parents whose child has symptoms resembling those of COVID-19, Quebec announced Thursday.
Quebec has requested and received 3.25 million rapid tests for the month of November, and the 10.7 million tests requested for December will be sent, it is said in Ottawa, without specifying whether the order from Quebec includes self-tests.