Rapid testing has been a critical component of Nova Scotia’s pandemic response but has been focused in the Central Zone. Now, as the Houston government implements a more stringent testing policy, many rural Nova Scotians will be left without a valuable tool in their toolbox as they head into the holiday season.

The Houston government’s decision to scale back the existing testing policy leaves Nova Scotians limited in their ability to keep cases low in the province. Additionally, rapid testing is scarce outside of the HRM area, making it difficult for rural Nova Scotians to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

“We know that the Omicron variant is highly transmissible and presents differently than previous variants,” says Liberal Health and Wellness critic Zach Churchill. “With PCR testing unavailable for many Nova Scotians and rapid test resources depleted, the Houston government is allowing a blind spot to develop in rural Nova Scotia.”

Rapid tests remain limited across the province, including the Central Zone where cases are the highest. With people traveling throughout the province to visit for the holidays, it’s imperative that they are able to access rapid tests anywhere from Yarmouth to Sydney.

Nova Scotia was the envy of the world for their pandemic response. Now, with the Houston government at the helm, that reputation is at risk