Haggie blames 'misinformation' for 2nd briefing about COVID-19 test eligibility in 5 days

Newfoundland and Labrador'shealth minister blamed "misinformation"for confusion over its changes to COVID-19 testing criteria, at the provincial government's second briefing on the topic in five days.

On Tuesday afternoon, John Haggiereiterated changes to provincial criteria for COVID-19 testing, which were announced by the Health Department on Thursday and then clarifiedat another unplanned briefing Friday,with Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald.

"I think the challenge is that people have not heeded what Dr. Fitzgerald said, and what I've been saying today is to try and emphasize that," Haggie said.

"There are people out there put in front of a microphone who are actually providing you with inaccurate information. And that's why I'm here today. There seems subsequently to have been some misunderstanding and some misinformation out there, so I wanted to provide some clarity."

Haggiesaid people are"misinformed" or were "misinforming" the public about testing criteria. He did not provide examples Tuesday but his cabinet colleagues used those words in reference to the PC Opposition last week in the House of Assembly of misinforming the public.

Asked later for clarification about who Haggie was referring to, the department likewise provided no specifics, saying only in a statement, "There have been reports erroneously stating that some groups, such as seniors, would be forced to purchase rapid antigen tests and aren't able to access free PCR tests."

The provincial government announced Thursday it would limitPCR testing to the most vulnerable populations, butHaggie saidPCR testing would still be available for some household and non-household contacts of a positive caseif they can't access a rapid antigen test.

While rapid tests are not widely available in Newfoundland and Labrador as they are in other provinces, Haggiesaid people need to start viewing PCR tests as a "clinical investigation" rather than a widely used test.

"For example, when people feel sick with colds and suspected influenza, we don't swab everybody. Instead we test vulnerable residents, those in high-risk settings, where the threat of spread is more important to manage," hesaid, echoing Fitzgerald's comments Friday about provincial criteria forPCR tests.

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