M.O.H.W. to Scale Up Rapid Testing Countrywide

Michel Chebat

The Ministry of Health and Wellness will immediately implement and scale up the use of rapid testing in all district hospitals for symptomatic patients and close contacts.  Minister Chebat says that testing sites outside of the hospital will be established in urban communities.  Two mobile swabbing teams for rural communities will be created to better record the number of active cases for the ministry so that it can effectively respond to the virus.

Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness

“The plan moving forward includes the immediate implementation and scale up of the use of rapid tests in all district hospitals with clear testing protocols. All regional and community hospitals are not conduction rapid test. We shall be expanding test sites throughout the country and those sites will include in Orange Walk we shall have stationary clinics at the People’s Stadium, Louisiana Area, Blue Creek, August Pine Ridge, San Felipe, Guinea Grass and San Pablo and those will be in addition to mobile clinics which will be in San Carlos, Indian Church, Trinidad, San Lazaro, Yo Creek, Fire Burn, Shipyard, San Antonio, Trial Farm, Chan Pine Ridge, Carmelita, Santa Martha, San Jose Palmar, San Estevan, Douglas, Nuevo San Juan and San Luis. In Independence we will have at Bella Vista as well, and Independence. Additionally we will have mobile clinics in Placencia, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Red Bank, San Juan, Trio. And those are going to be the clinics for the priority areas at this moment in time. As we move along testing sites will be add to these. With the new implementation for the rapid testing in the information that is being shared with the public you can expect to see rises in numbers of positive tests. And the explanation for that is a very basic one. Up to now the results, the information being shared is based solely on the PCR test. Now that the rapid tests are implemented that information will be added to that infographic.”