- Hub staff

The Owen Sound and District Chamber of Commerce has been designated by the government of Ontario to distribute rapid antigen screening kits to local businesses.

According to their Frequently Asked Questions, this is being supported by the federal and provincial governments through Chambers of Commerce and other business organizations because "the latest information from Health Canada suggests that up to 1/3 of people carrying the virus are asymptomatic causing little or no noticeable signs, however, over 50% of known cases were transmitted by an asymptomatic carrier. This makes it incredibly important to find asymptomatic carriers in order to combat the spread and get to more normalized community life."

Dr. Ian Arra, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for Grey Bruce Owen Sound, issued a letter to "All businesses in Grey and Bruce Counties" on Tuesday, stating that Grey Bruce Health Unit does not endorse Self Rapid Antigen Screening "consistent with the science and best practice."  It is the same position on asymptomatic testing that Dr. Arra expressed in March concerning testing in schools mandated by the Ministry of Education, and in turn reflects his September Open Letter to parents and grandparents.

Any business that does choose to participate in the self-screening program must select a Screening Supervisor Designate, who will be responsible to pick up the kits by appointment, watch a training video, and be with employees "to instruct and ensure the procedure is followed for an accurate result."

"In order to participate in the Workplace Self Screening program, all participants must agree to immediately report the results as soon as employees have been tested. Your Screening Supervisor Designate will be responsible for reporting all results," according to the FAQs.  The document continues:

"Anyone screening Presumptive Positive or Inconclusive MUST immediately self-isolate and contact Local Public Health for a PCR Test within 24 hours and cannot be permitted in the workplace until there is a confirmed (by Public Health) negative test result. It is REQUIRED that Public Health be notified of any Positive results immediately.

Results are shared with Health Canada and the Ministry of Health Ontario."

source: OSDCC website; releases from Grey Bruce Public Health; Ontario News, Grey County