Liberal renew call for rapid testing

PRINCE GEORGE – The BC Liberals are reiterating their calls for increased access to rapid COVID-19 tests while the NDP government continues to stockpile the tests. Rapid tests should be considered as an important part of pandemic protection for British Columbians.

“While rapid tests aren’t perfect, other jurisdictions have deployed them as an added layer of protection to help keep the public safe, and yet here in B.C. unless you’re on a film set or visiting a care facility, there’s no way for the public to access these important tools for pandemic protection,” said Interim Leader of the Official Opposition Shirley Bond. “There are millions of rapid tests, sent to B.C. by the federal government, sitting unused in storage right now that could be playing a key role in helping keep British Columbians safe from COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant.”

Despite 80 million rapid tests being sent out to provinces and territories from the federal government, British Columbia has failed to take advantage of these tests unlike other jurisdictions in the country.

As we move into winter and especially during the holidays, people throughout our province will be gathering with friends and loved ones indoors, and having access to rapid tests would certainly help keep people safe and reduce anxiety. We have said repeatedly that the use of rapid tests could provide an added layer of protection as we continue to follow public health orders,” added Bond. “It’s long overdue for John Horgan and the NDP to step up and use the rapid tests currently sitting on shelves so that British Columbians have the assurance that we are using every tool in the toolbox to stop transmission and fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. People deserve nothing less.”