Several local communities have started receiving and distributing free rapid antigen self-testing kits that will help people determine if they are infected with the COVID-19 virus. In total, there are more than 1.3 million of the home test kits that will be distributed in communities across the province.
The provincial government announced the plan to distribute the kits on Oct. 15 but many communities did not start receiving them until this week. The purpose of the self test kits is to help fight against a rising number of COVID cases, which are putting the hospital system under pressure.
Each kit contains five rapid tests. According to the Saskatchewan government website, these testing kits do not come individually packaged but are in bundles so kits will be distributed quickly. The self-testing kits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of one kit per household at this time.
The Kipling Fire Department received a shipment of the free rapid tests and they are being distributed through the town office. People from the Kipling area can pick up a kit on Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., until supplies last.
Whitewood also received a shipment of hundreds of the self-testing kits earlier this week which are now being distributed through the town office and the local fire department. Kits can be picked up at the town office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or through the Whitewood Fire Department (WFD) by contacting any firefighter or by sending a message through the WFD social media pages.
Neither Grenfell or Broadview ordered kits to give away to the public but the Town of Grenfell has confirmed that they ordered self-test kits for the Grenfell Fire Department so that firefighters can ensure they are COVID free to respond to calls.
Other communities are being continually added and can be found online at www.saskatchewan.ca under the COVID-19 tab.
According to the government website, self-testing is safe, easy to use, provides results within 15 minutes and, most importantly, is gentle. Self-tests only take a few seconds to collect a sample using a swab that goes into the soft part of each nostril. These tests can be done almost anywhere, at any time to see if you may have COVID-19.
Self-tests are to be used only as a screening tool and cannot be used as proof of a negative test. The recommendation to seek PCR testing through the Saskatchewan Health Authority and stay home at the first-sign of any symptoms will continue.
