Premier Doug Ford is optimistic a new rapid-testing device for COVID-19 could ramp-up daily testing across Ontario.
The Spartan Cube, a portable hand-held device which eliminates the need to send swab samples to the nearest lab, has now been approved by Health Canada.
During his daily news conference Monday, Ford said the device should help the province meet its goal of 8,000 daily tests by Wednesday and 14,000 by April 29.
"I think with the Spartan units, we can get results within the hour, so that's really going to help out, especially on the frontline with healthcare workers and right across the board, and our first responders. You know, we can get results in an hour, well we might have to be testing people every second, third day in those positions," he said.
Ford once again expressed frustration that the province is still well below its capacity of 13,000 tests per day.
"I think we were slightly just under 6,000 [Sunday]. Our goal is to hit 8,000 by April 15 and [health officials] are telling me they're on target. [The lack of testing] is not from a lack of anything, we have everything in place. It's frustrating. That's what I can tell you, it's very frustrating."
Ottawa's Spartan Bioscience estimates it can produce 1.5 million of the tests each month -- Ontario has already ordered 900,000 testing kits.
