OTTAWA — The federal fiscal update contains more than $1.5 billion to buy rapid tests right away, the Star has learned. “As you know, provincial and territorial demand for rapid tests is growing,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said last Friday. Once the federal government hands over the rapid tests to provincial governments, it’s up to them how they use them and distribute them. The approach means that in some provinces, rapid tests are plentiful and available to some people for free. Rapid tests give results in about 15 minutes but they’re not considered as reliable as molecular testing which is done through a lab.

Source: thestar December 14, 2021 22:01 UTC