Question Period Note: COVID-19 Testing for First Nations’ Communities

• The Government of Canada has been actively evaluating and acquiring approved point-of-care tests.

• This is done in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments and includes prioritizing the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, especially those in rural, remote and isolated areas.

• We will continue to work with partners to ensure that health centres in First Nations communities have the proper equipment to support these tests, as well as the training procedures required to administer them.

ISC is working to support access to point-of-care testing in First Nation communities.

Testing can take place in a variety of locations, such as medical clinics and nursing stations.

As announced on October 6, the Government of Canada has signed a new agreement with Abbott Rapid Diagnostics to purchase up to 20.5 million Panbio COVID-19 Antigen rapid tests.

Health Canada has authorized this test for use in Canada. The Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test kit, which is the size of a toaster, can provide results within 13 minutes.

If pressed on jurisdictional roles
• COVID-19 testing swabs are provided by provinces to public health units and ISC nursing stations with all confirmatory testing administered by provincial and national laboratories.

• The provinces and territories acknowledge the need to increase testing quickly across Canada and point-of-care tests are being explored for roll out.

• Where ISC provides services directly in First Nations communities, nursing personnel will notify Regional Health Emergency Coordinators and Regional Medical Officers of Health of any probable COVID-19 cases to ensure ISC is ready to provide any additional support required.
If pressed on timelines for testing
• We are committed to supporting communities in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, including through testing and contact tracing.

• Provincial labs have experienced backlogs in some cases, causing delays in returning test results to communities.

• That is why ISC is working to support access to point-of-care and rapid testing in First Nation communities.

• To date, 67 GeneXpert rapid test systems have been deployed to increase access by northern, remote and isolated communities across the country, supporting increased Indigenous community capacity to respond to COVID-19.