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Chatham-Kent residents are feeling frustrated after not being included in the province’s rollout of rapid COVID-19 tests, says a municipal councilor.
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Speaking during non-agenda business on Monday, Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor said he’s heard concerns from the public on the matter, given that other centers in the province have had access to the tests, including at shopping centers and the LCBO.
April Rietdyk, general manager of community human services, said Chatham-Kent Public Health wasn’t consulted concerning the distribution.
“We certainly have not seen rapid antigen tests, the free ones that the government announced, come to Chatham-Kent,” she said.
“We do have links on our website that will take you where the distribution sites are. The closest distribution site to Chatham-Kent is in Windsor. They do have a number of openings that are on the site for this coming week, if you would like to travel to Windsor to pick up kits. ”
In various locations of province, there have been lengthy lineups for the tests, sometimes with hundreds of people.
Rietdyk said that although Chatham-Kent wasn’t part of this phase, she said the municipality will advocate for kits, as well as to “have some say” in where those locations are.
“Keep watch of our website and we’ll keep connecting people to the links as the province continues to roll this out,” she said.
McGregor said it was likely a question more suited for the board of health instead of council, but noted the announcement came not long after the last board meeting.
He also asked the public to be mindful that public health staff had no role in the province’s decision.
“I certainly understand the frustration of some residents in the community,” he said. “Despite the really tireless advocacy of our public health unit in getting vaccination going… it does seem that rural and remote communities, northern communities included, seem to be the last to get access (for) services at times.”