COVID-19 rapid tests have been made available for the public in a few places in the community, most notably at Creighton’s main administrative building.
Rapid tests, while supplies last, are available for members of the public at the Creighton Town Office during regular office hours. The office ran out of test kits late last week, but received a new shipment earlier this week. When in stock, the Town has opted to make them available for people in communities on both sides of the border, not only for Creighton residents.
“We consider this a region where we all work together,” said Town chief administrative officer Paula Muench.
“We just made the decision that, if we have them [rapid tests], we will supply them to whoever wants them.”
“There are lots of Flin Flon people coming in to get them,” added Fidler.
In addition to possible hangups with supply, officials also ask that people who have possible COVID-19 symptoms don’t come in to the office themselves, asking to send someone else instead.
“We want to express that, if you have any symptoms, to not come into the office to get them,” Muench said.
“Find somebody else to get them,” added Fidler.
In Manitoba, the province has also announced intentions to provide rapid antigen test kits to all Kindergarten-Grade 6 students, including to all school divisions. As of press time, whether or not those tests have made it yet to Flin Flon is not confirmed.
PCR tests in Flin Flon can be carried out at Flin Flon General Hospital, where a walk-in testing centre is located. That centre is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. - appointments for testing can be made by calling 1-855-268-4318.
While access to rapid tests can be quicker through Creighton, access to higher-grade masks is easier in Flin Flon - in an unexpected place.
In Manitoba and in Flin Flon, KN95 masks are being made available at Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries locations, including liquor marts and casinos. The masks can be found at the Flin Flon Liquor Mart. KN95 masks are designed to offer more protection from airborne threats like coronavirus than other forms of mask, including cloth and non-medical masks. The masks typically jut up from the face, like a small beak.
