Canada Provinces advised to adopt surveillance testing to battle COVID-19, Revera says

#Canada; #LongTermCareHomes; #SeniorResidences; #Revera
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Ontario/Canadian-Media: Adoption of widespread surveillance testing as part of an internal review set to be released on Monday is being advised by  one of the largest operators of Canadian seniors' residences and long-term care homes, Revera chaired by Dr. Bob Bell, former deputy health minister in Ontario and a former hospital CEO, media reports said.

Revera. Image credit: Website

"The most important factor depends on how much virus is in the community," he said during an interview that aired on Rosemary Barton Live on Sunday and added, "These folks unknowingly, in the best interest of their patients, come to work, and if they are not tested, [the risk] of them unknowingly bringing disease into the home during a time when they're infected but asymptomatic is high."

Eversince Ontario has adopted surveillance testing, said Bell, the protection of long-term care residents have been more more efficient. 

Although Canada has not adopted surveillance testing elsewhere in Canada, where thousands of COVID-19 deaths have been reported at care homes, Revera, which operates more than 70 long-term care homes in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, and  nearly 100 retirement residences in the same provinces, as well as in Saskatchewan. itself is contracting with private testing companies to actually do tests for their staff, said Bell.

"If the risk is as high as it currently is, for example, in Alberta or in communities like Toronto or Peel, to be testing every day," he said. 
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"Because staff don't want to be carrying disease in. They are unknowing that they're infected. They should be given an easy way to test themselves."