DAWSON CREEK -- The Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce sent another letter to provincial health officials hoping this time, they can help relieve stress from businesses in the Peace Region.
Kathleen Connolly with the Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce says they have joined forces with the B.C. Chamber to hopefully get some attention from health officials surrounding rapid testing.
According to Connolly, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce was told by health officials in the past, the Government doesn’t want to pay for rapid tests to be sent.
In the most recent letter the Chamber sent to Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, the Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce offered to help distribute rapid tests around the city.
“Essentially we would be a conduit, we would be a way for employers to access those millions of tests that are out there and get them to their staff on a daily basis,” says Connolly.
Connolly says having rapid tests in businesses would help employers who are struggling.
Tracy Winland, the manager at The George Dawson Inn says the hotel has been struggling with staff shortages due to the pandemic.
She has gone from 42 staff members to 10.
“We're doing a lot more than what your job requirement would have been 2 or 3 years ago. you're helping in house keeping you are helping here you're helping there,” says Winland.
In November, CJDC-TV News talked to an Infection Control Epidemiologist from the University of Toronto who says rapid tests can help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in the Peace Region.
“It’s about trying to identify as quickly as possible people who have covid even if they’re not ill, even if they feel completely fine.. so that you can stop transmission from happening,” says Colin Furness.
Connolly says she’s hoping the latest letter will spark a conversation within the Government.
