By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce and the Municipality of Port Hope, have partnered with the Federal and provincial governments to launch the COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative that will roll out free rapid tests for small- and medium-sized businesses in the Port Hope region.
This initiative invites businesses (including non-chamber members) with 150 or fewer employees to participate in this program, the announcement said.
“The goal of the program is to identify asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in the workplace that might otherwise be missed, helping to curb the spread in the workplace, at home and around the community in Port Hope.”
The local COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative builds upon the success of the province-wide program that has been delivering tests into the hands of small and medium-sized businesses.
“The Port Hope Chamber has been an incredible resource to the community since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis,” chamber of commerce board director Rhonda Cook said.
“ Public health and the health of our economy depend on each other. Our chamber is proud to distribute rapid tests to small businesses in Port Hope. We hope that, through this program, we will be able to curb the spread and reopen our local economy safely.”
As the owner of Primitive Designs, Cook added, “I am pleased to be able to provide this extra level of reassurance to staff and customers as we reopen and continue to operate during our peak season. We are proud to be one of the first businesses to sign on.”
Interested businesses can visit https://www.porthopechamber.com/rapid-screening-program to complete all needed steps and order their two-week supply of rapid tests, with the kits to be picked up at the Jack Burger Sports Complex (60 Highland Dr.) at set appointment times.
A designate from each participating business will be responsible for supervising the self-screening collection, and will be required to attend the site for the initial pick-up following completion of video training to supervise the screening process properly and dispose of the used kits safely.
Each participating business will be required to electronically submit their screening results, with the recommendation to screen staff twice weekly. The accumulated data will be reported to the Ministry of Health by the chamber of commerce.
If a test results in a preliminary positive for COVID-19, the employee will be required to leave the workplace, arrange for a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) Test at an approved COVID-19 assessment site, and self-isolate until a confirmatory test result is received.
“Rapid testing is a key way to keep workplaces as safe as possible during the pandemic, especially as we wait for vaccinations to roll out,” chamber Chief Executive Officer Brenda Whitehead stated.
“We need to encourage businesses to become an engaged piece of the curbing the spread of COVID-19 puzzle in our community.
“We are pleased that the municipality is working with us to provide space and expertise and know that, with all of working together, we will get on the path to economic recovery both safer and faster.”
For more information, or to engage in the program, visit https://www.porthopechamber.com/rapid-screening-program or email admin@porthopechamber.com.
