Negative rapid COVID-19 test result no reason to celebrate, region's medical officer of health says

People should not put their full trust in a negative rapid COVID-19 test result, thinking it means they can socialize with others without taking precautions.

That's the message from Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health.

Rapid test kits have been hard to get in Waterloo region. Wang says she's advocated to the province to make the distribution of the free kits more equitable across the province, but ultimately, public health is not involved in handing out the kits.

But Wang says she's heard from an increasing number of people who say they want a rapid test kit.

"There's a lot of anxiety and desire that I've heard expressed for people to have rapid tests so they can check to see if they're safe to go to family gatherings," she said Wednesday during a media briefing.

Dr. Kieran Moore,Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday there isgrowing demand for COVID-19 tests as daily case counts surge.

Positive, negative, what to do

Wang says a rapid COVID-19 test is a tool to help keep people safe but a negative result shouldn't mean people let down their guard.

"Positive ... you should consider yourself a case," Wang said, noting people should then seek out a PCR test at a local assessment centre.The Ontario government says anyone who has received a positive result on a rapid antigen test should self-isolate and book a PCR test through a lab to confirm the results. The wait to get a PCR test may be longer than before the Omicron variant took hold in the province, however.

"Negative ... doesn't mean anything in terms of you're safe now to go and gather with others. You need to take other measures to help protect yourself and that really does start with keeping gatherings as small as possible."

Wang added,people still planning gatherings for the holidays shouldkeep groups to 10 or fewer people, have events outdoors if possible orif indoors, in well-ventilated areas, continue to wear a good mask like an N95 orcloth mask with a filter and they should also physically distance from others.