Front-door COVID screening no longer enforced at AHS sites

By Medicine Hat News on April 4, 2023.

Effective Monday, front-door COVID-19 screening is longer being enforced at Alberta Health Services sites across the province.

AHS announced it would be ending its front-door screening program last week, citing a decline in the number of respiratory illnesses as the motivation.

The move comes just over a week after the province announced it would be “taking the next step toward aligning public health recommendations … across all acute respiratory viral illnesses” by making changes to COVID-19 testing and isolation recommendations.

Under the new recommendations – which also went into effect Monday – Albertans are directed to use rapid antigen testing as the primary method of testing for COVID, and, if positive, are now recommended to isolate until feeling well and no longer showing symptoms.

Previously, PCR testing remained available to eligible Albertans at select AHS COVID assessment centres across the province, but the March 31 closure of all assessment centres ended access to such. As well, those who tested positive for COVID were previously recommended to isolate for at least five days.

While Albertans who work in the medical field are still recommended to isolate for five days, they too are directed to use rapid antigen testing, available for free at most pharmacies.

Health-care workers and members of the public are still recommended to stay home if feeling unwell, regardless of whether testing positive for COVID or not, and are advised to wear a mask if experiencing any symptoms related to respiratory illness.

AHS is continuing to enforce mandatory masking at acute care, continuing care and community centres across the province for visitors, staff and volunteers in an effort to protect vulnerable populations.

It is also recommending Albertans continue practising measures which promote good health, such as frequent hand washing and sanitation, and vaccination against respiratory illnesses, like COVID.

As of March 27, there were 465 individuals hospitalized with COVID, 25 of whom were in the ICU.

Last year on that date, there were 953 Albertans hospitalized with COVID, 45 of whom were in the ICU.