Holder calls on province to increase rapid testing

London Mayor Ed Holder says it's time for more rapid tests.

As COVID-19 case counts continue to increase in Middlesex-London, Holder says rapid testing availability will be a key as we enter the holiday season.

"I'm encouraging the Ontario government to act. None of these tests should be sitting in storage. They should be widely available to every Londoner and every Ontarian who wants one," Holder said at a virtual media briefing on Monday afternoon. "Anyone in London who wants to book a COVID test at Carling today has to wait until at least Friday for an appointment. That's not good enough."

"If we don't have enough kits, we should be buying more. The time is now," Holder added.

Businesses with less than 150 employees can get tests from the London Chamber of Commerce.

On Monday, the MLHU announced 75 new cases, and that the number of active cases in the community had climbed above 400.

https://twitter.com/ldnontmayor/status/1470491501243342861

"The availability of these rapid tests is done through the Ontario government," said Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Alex Summers at the same media briefing, "[We] are in active discussion with regards to how those tests may be available to places like schools and elementary schools."

Holder said he was "open to anything" that would get more tests to Londoners and people in Middlesex County.

Last week, public health officials announced new guidelines in the midst of those rising case numbers and the Omicron variant's arrival in London.

"Case counts are rising rapidly," said Summers, "We are seeing exponential growth in our region across the province."

Meantime, the Health Unit also announced they'd be increasing vaccine bookings early in 2022.