Saskatoon drive-thru testing centre struggles to meet spike in demand
A sudden influx in demand for COVID-19 tests in Saskatoon is resulting in long lineups at the testing centre on Thatcher Avenue near SaskTel Centre.
“Our wait times are sitting at over three hours in some cases,” said Carrie Dornstauder, interim testing chief with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
“A lot of that is due to sudden influx, something we didn’t see in July and August and some of it is due to lack of staffing both regularly available and some immediate short-term sick calls.”
On Tuesday the drive-thru testing centre in Saskatoon closed three-and-a-half hours earlier than its 7:30 p.m. closing time because it had reached capacity.
On July 19, the SHA scaled back its hours of operation to match the demand for testing, Dornstauder said.
The testing centre now runs from 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:30 a.m., to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The change in hours allowed healthcare staff to return to their regular positions, Dornstauder said.
“A lot of staff were returned to regular work and we saw people moving away from temporary and casual positions making it tough for us to recruit so there’s a variety of complexities,” she said.
“August 23rd was our biggest testing day in a while and it was four times the amount of people we saw back in July.”
The SHA said it aims for a 90-minute turnaround time. Dornstauder said the SHA is meeting that target in Regina, but not in Saskatoon.
Staffing fatigue is the number one concern and the inability to staff is the second challenge, she said.
On Wednesday another long line of cars stood idled along Thatcher Avenue. People who spoke to CTV News said they expected a four-hour wait but after two hours they were nearly at the front of the line. Drivers reported lining up at 12:30 p.m., only half an hour after the testing site opened, and already encountering the two-hour wait to get tested.
The drive-thru testing centre in Prince Albert had to close early on Wednesday because it reached its daily capacity.
The testing centre at the Cone Shop Car Wash will reopen Thursday at 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
On Wednesday Saskatoon added 43 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the city’s total active case number to 735.
Do you have a story idea or news tip? Email us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.