'Contact of a contact' speaks out after being denied COVID-19 test

AWindsor, Ont., residentis frustrated after beingturned away from getting a COVID-19 test at both ahospital andpharmacy, despite havinga close contact who was exposed to someone with the virus.

"I thought we were here to try to help keep the public healthy and protected, and for them to let me walk away I just didn't understand that," saidRaymond Quenneville.

Quennevillewas at a small gathering last week.He found out later that the host had been in close contact withsomeone with COVID-19. But the host didn't want to get tested,leaving Quenneville in limbo.

Even though he's double vaccinated, Quenneville wanted to know he wasn't spreading the virus.

"I Isolated myself at home," he said, adding hedidn't go to some events on his schedule just in case.

Quenneville's concern comes as COVID-19 cases haverisen in the region this month.As of Monday, there weremore than500 active cases, despite the fact 72 per cent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated.

Quenneville had already been turned away at a pharmacy before trying the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Windsor Regional Hospital, where he was directed back to the pharmacy.

Butthe hospital was following the provincial guidelinesaround COVID-19 testing. Under that criteria, being a contact of a contact who was exposed does not meet the qualifications for a free test.

The provincial guidelines are that onlythose with COVID-19 symptoms, a direct exposure to a positive case, or living orworking in a place where there's an outbreak are eligible to betested at assessment centres.

Quennevillewants to see the province expand the definition of who can get tested. CBCNews has reached out to the provincial government for comment, but has not heard back in time of this publication.

Other testing options available

The assessment centre isn't the only option for testing. Rapid screening isavailable at select pharmacies, and anyone who isasymptomatic and either an Indigenous person or essential worker can receive thePCRCOVID-19 test, the same typegiven at the hospital.

The CEO of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit saidthat in a scenario like Quenneville's, a pharmacy would be the best place to go for a test for reassurance.

"Sometimes it's about the language and what you say when you go," said Nicole Dupuis."Sosomeone who is a contact of a contact really isn't a contact ... it's not actually a thing ... until you've been identified as a high-risk contact."

She adds that self-test kits are also available for purchase.

There are also otherways to get testedfor a fee. Several private labs in Windsor offer testing, though most focus on those who need it for travel. Antigen testing starts at $75 while PCR tests are $200 and up.