The Saint John Chamber of Commerce has distributed a minimum of 40,000 speedy COVID-19 testing kits to 850 firms — a measure of success for its CEO, David Duplisea.
Nevertheless, Duplisea mentioned the chamber is conscious of employers who’re dealing with points with workers not searching for a confirmative PCR check as mandated by Public Well being pointers.
“The Division of Well being pointers are that they need to name 811 and carry out a PCR check after which report that PCR check again — that’s the place the communications hole is coming in,” he mentioned in an interview Tuesday.
“There’s a disconnect. Some individuals, we’ve heard, will not be then reporting the federal or provincial division of well being for the PCR check.”
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It’s prompted swift motion by the federal government who introduced fines can be issued to those that don’t search a PCR check after a constructive speedy check outcome.
These fines vary wherever from $400 to $20,000.
Premier Blaine Higgs mentioned on Thursday the speedy checks are a invaluable device, “however they solely work if used correctly and if individuals comply with up on a constructive outcome shortly.”
Nevertheless, Duplisea mentioned it solely locations pressure on enterprise already struggling to remain afloat. He mentioned with low uptake on jobs due to authorities help applications, resistance to necessary vaccinations and now the speedy testing guidelines, companies are feeling the burden.
“It does place a burden on employers,” he mentioned. “You could have employers who say I’ve had worker for 12 years, certainly one of my finest workers they usually don’t wish to get vaccinated they usually don’t wish to get examined and the employer is left with, ‘OK, now you’ve got a really excessive danger right here.’”
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He mentioned all the restrictions proper now are designed to get individuals to get vaccinated.
“The second problem is once more vaccination after which the speedy testing — it’s coming at time the place companies have sufficient on their plate attempting to remain open, attempting to remain afloat, attempting to pivot, attempting to determine what their new regular is and what their new enterprise mannequin goes to appear like and simply the added of burden of getting to take care of this when it doesn’t should occur,” Duplisea mentioned.
The Division of Justice and Public Security has but to clarify the way it plans to police using speedy checks and any constructive outcomes regardless of the federal government making kits extensively out there to the general public in October.
Nobody was out there for an interview from the division on Tuesday.
There are 36 websites out there to get a free speedy testing equipment, in response to the Division of Well being, with greater than 10,000 kits being handed out Monday.
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