Science moves quickly in the arms race against the ever-evolving COVID-19 virus. Now, a growing number of medical experts and health authorities say the way at-home COVID tests are used needs to be adjusted to better detect Omicron and its subvariant.
virus. Now, a growing number of medical experts and health authorities say the way at-home COVID tests are used needs to be adjusted to better detect Omicron and its subvariant.
Ontario can only estimate the number of people infected with COVID because the use of polymerase chain reaction tests, the gold-standard COVID tests, was restricted by the province in December to high-risk individuals and health-care workers. The arrival of Omicron saw infections skyrocket, overburdening Ontario’s testing infrastructure.
Schwartz said the “dynamics of the virus,” and when people are most infectious, is shifting, because of vaccinations and widespread partial immunity. As a result, COVID has become more detectable one to two days after the onset of symptoms, now considered the ideal time to use a rapid test. “It might take up to four days for your rapid test to be positive,” she said, adding that a PCR test would likely catch an infection sooner.
The science table said people can collect oral-nasal samples by “initially swabbing both cheeks, followed by the back of the tongue or throat, and then both nostrils.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S. FDA pulls authorization for GSK-Vir’s COVID-19 therapy amid rising Omicron sub-variant casesThe U.S. health regulator pulls its authorization for GSK-Vir’s COVID-19 therapy in the U.S. The move comes as a blow as GlaxoSmithKline and Vir saw high demand for sotrovimab
Read more »
B.C. Premier John Horgan tests positive for COVID-19, says symptoms are ‘mild’The Premier says said he’s isolating and working from home until his symptoms resolve
Read more »
NACI: Provinces should prep to offer 2nd COVID-19 booster shots | National NewswatchNational Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views. Make it a daily habit.
Read more »
Provinces should prep to offer 2nd COVID-19 booster shots: vaccine panelThe National Advisory Committee on Immunization says provinces and territories should rapidly prepare to offer fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks.
Read more »
Quebec extends mask mandate for month of April amid rise in COVID-19 hospitalizationsThe Quebec government said the province will maintain the mask mandate for indoor public spaces until at least the end of April due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations
Read more »
COVAX, African Union decline to buy more doses of Moderna COVID-19 shotsA spokesperson for Gavi, part of the COVAX alliance, confirms that COVAX and the African Union decline to buy more doses of Moderna COVID-19 shots
Read more »