NORTH BATTLEFORD - The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is among the many local Chambers in the province wondering if they will be distributing rapid COVID-19 test kits this week.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority had announced last week that 1.3 million COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits would be distributed to the general public for self testing, starting the week of Oct. 18.
The Battlefords Chamber was set to start distributing the test kits at a scheduled drive-thru on Thursday, Oct. 21 between 1 and 4 p.m., outside their offices in North Battleford at the corner of Highway 16 and 40.
But a wrench has been thrown into their preparations. As of Tuesday, the kits had yet to arrive.
The kits were supposed to be delivered this week to various distribution points across the province. Local Chambers around the province as well as local fire halls were among those signing on to be pickup points for rapid antigen tests to be handed out for free in their communities.
But there were media reports that the kits had yet to arrive at various Chamber locations. The province had also prematurely put up a list on their website of Chamber and other locations where the kits were supposed to be available, only for the page to be taken down.
On Tuesday, Oct 19 at the Battlefords Chamber’s regular board meeting, their Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak explained to the board the state of the situation locally.
The indication from Machniak was that the Battlefords Chamber was still getting ready to proceed with its drive-thru on Thursday in spite of the uncertainty.
The hope was expressed by Machniak that the test kits would arrive Wednesday in time to start distributing them Thursday. But she also acknowledged plans could change if the tests didn’t arrive.
“I honestly have no sense when the test kits are coming, so that’s a bit of a challenge,” Machniak said Tuesday.
It was further explained at the meeting that the province had received a shipment of about “38 semis” of COVID tests. After some two million orders are backfilled for nursing homes, schools, First Nations, and so on, the plan is for the remainder to be shipped out to the local Chambers and fire halls for the public.
The test kits are to be distributed locally over a number of weeks. The Battlefords Chamber has indicated it can distribute the kits to the public on Mondays and Thursdays, between 1 and 4 p.m. in the drive-thru.
The reason they are doing a drive-thru process, Machniak told the board, was so people didn’t have to stand in line and come inside their building. That way it keeps the building safe and secure from COVID-19.
Instead, patrons will be able to pull up in their vehicles, with signs to be placed to indicate where the vehicles can go.
The Battlefords North Stars have come on board as community partners in the distribution. The plan is to have North Stars players be involved in working with the approaching vehicles and help distribute the kits.
The orders are to be distributed to the families in two-week allotments, with orders to be refilled every second week.
