Ontario is now surpassing its quota for COVID-19 tests, according to the province's Minister of Health.
The provincial government announced Monday that it has developed a comprehensive lab testing system, which is now processing thousands of additional COVID-19 tests per day. The system was developed in cooperation with Ontario Health, Public Health Ontario, hospitals, community labs, and local health units.
"Thanks to the joint efforts of this diverse group of health experts we have dramatically expanded the scale and scope of COVID-19 testing provincewide and have emerged as a national leader," said Minister of Health Christine Elliott. "We have met and exceeded our testing goals, which is critical to containing and limiting the spread of this new virus, both in our communities and in long-term care homes and other shared living spaces."
Premier Doug Ford said thanks to this testing system, the province is putting more emphasis on long-term care facilities, where the majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported.
"We're now exceeding our target of 16,000 tests a day, with many of those tests aimed at protecting our long-term care residents and staff," said Ford. "This important milestone provides a strong foundation for gradually reopening our economy and getting people back to work, while protecting the health and safety of all Ontarians."
The tests are being conducted in hospitals, long-term care homes, group homes, shelters, emergency child care centres, and other congregate settings. Once test samples are collected, lab results are typically provided within one to two days.
To date, Ontario has conducted over 342,000 tests for COVID-19.