Government of Alberta

By Emily Keller

covid-19 testing

Alberta increases eligibility for COVID-19 testing to anyone with symptoms

Apr 13, 2020 | 4:23 PM

Alberta has announced it is expanding testing in the province to all individuals with COVID-19 symptoms.

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, made the announcement at Monday’s daily COVID update.

“You have previously heard me say that we were not able to test every Albertan with a cough or runny nose, but we believe we may be at the point where we can do so.”

“That is why, effective immediately, we are expanding eligibility for testing to anyone in Alberta who has a fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat.”

Dr. Hinshaw says the first step Albertans with symptoms should do is to stay home.

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“Your next step should be to take the AHS (Alberta Health Services) online assessment form in order to arrange testing. There is no need to call 811 for those who complete the form.”

She adds that completing the online assessment form is the most efficient way to arrange a test.

Dr. Hinshaw says they will monitor the volume of completed tests and adjust where necessary if the volume is greater than the capacity to run tests.

She warns that with the expansion of eligibility, Alberta will see an increase of confirmed COVID-19 test results every day, and that an increase has already begun after the expansion of eligibility to seniors, essential workers and those in the Calgary Zone last week.

As of April 13, Alberta has completed 79,781 tests for COVID-19.