Getting a COVID-19 test to attend Christmas gatherings is the 'wrong approach': WECHU

Anyone considering getting a COVID-19 test leading up to Christmas so they can spend the holidays with parents, kids or other extended family isbeing warned against the idea by Windsor public health.

Anegative COVID-19 test result doesn't mean it's safe to ignorepublic health guidance on gatherings even if it'sthe holidays.

"I don't want people to ... use the test as a tool to find ways to stilldo what they do," said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

"Because if that's the approach, I think that's the wrong approach."

Dr. Ahmed was responding to a questionabout whether he's concerned that the region could see a surge in demand fortesting from people looking to mitigate risk or clear their conscience before attending holiday gatherings.

That may have beenthecase in the U.S. ahead of Thanksgiving last month. Media reports said there was heightened demand for testingdespite the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionurging Americans toavoid travel and celebrate with their own household.

In Ontario,provincial guidelines determine who is eligible for a COVID-19 test. With some exceptions somegroups can get tested at pharmacies if they're asymptomatic, for example only those with symptomsor exposurecan get tested.

Dr. Ahmed strongly encourages them to do so.

"Anyone who has hada high-risk exposure, anyone who's identified as a close contact, anyone with any kind of symptoms, I think they should definitely, definitely get tested," he said.

People who are symptomatic but testnegative arerequired to isolate until they feel better.With the virus'sthelong incubation period, a negative result doesn't necessarily mean you haven't been infected, Dr. Ahmed said. Anegative result canprovide a false sense of security around holiday visits.

"If someone had a high-risk exposuretoday andeven three, four days down the road they go and get themselvestested and if it's negativethey feel fine, they could still be infected. Their symptoms can start to show up 10, 11 even 14 days after their lastexposure."

Public health advice on the holidays

Late last month, the province released public health guidance strongly discouraging multi-household gatherings over the holiday season.

In keeping withestablished guidelines on contact with others,Premier Doug Ford announced Ontarians should only celebratewith people inside their own household.

"Doing so is critical if you live in a lockdown region," Ford said. "If you live alone you can join one other household. Please don't have big holiday parties."