On Air Now More Rob At Work Noon - 3:55pm
Now Playing Payolas Eyes Of A Stranger

Ford Announces $1-Billion for COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing

Photo Credit: Doug Ford Twitter page, @fordnation

The province is hiring 1,000 people in Niagara and beyond to help support contact tracing.

Premier Doug Ford says 500 people have already been hired over the past month and his government is still looking to fill another 500 positions.

This is all part of a $1-billion commitment from the Ford Government to enhance testing and contact tracing across the province.

Ford says $30-million of it will be set aside for outbreak management and $70-million will go towards the largest flu vaccine campaign in Canadian history.

He adds the province will also have to prioritize testing until rapid tests are approved by Health Canada.

Officials are now saying you should only get tested if you have symptoms, if you have been exposed to a confirmed case, if you are a resident or work somewhere with a COVID-19 outbreak or if you live or work in an at risk setting (long term care homes, shelters, health care, etc.)

Ford says no one who needs a test will be turned away.

More from Local News