The Barrhead and District Chamber of Commerce still has a number of rapid testing kits that local businesses can use to identify pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.
Chamber president Megan Perry confirmed at the Chamber luncheon on Sept. 16 that they still had some of the testing kits they obtained earlier this summer.
“This is something as Chamber members we are providing,” she said.
Earlier this year, the Alberta government announced that it had partnered with the Alberta Chambers of Commerce to make rapid testing kits available to small and medium-sized businesses, with the goal of providing enhanced workplace screening to guard against the spread of COVID-19.
After local Chambers signed an agreement with the province, they would be provided a number of the kits that they could distribute to businesses, including non-Chamber members.
While there is no cost for the kits, businesses and organizations do have to agree to meet certain reporting requirements.
For instance, they would have to report to the Chamber each week how many tests were used, how many individuals tested positive for COVID, how many tested negative, and so on.
Perry said local pharmacist Rita Lyster was heading up distribution of the kits.
If any organization or business was interested in obtaining the kits, they could complete an application form available at https://barrheadchamber.ca and then contact Lyster by calling (780) 284-0859 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Perry said the kits expire in November, and unless more businesses indicate an interest in receiving them, they will likely not renew their agreement with the province.
