Montreal Ends PCR Testing, Now Relying on Wastewater Testing to Detect COVID-19 Rates

Montreal and the rest of the province has ended wide access to PCR testing in early January, now only available to vulnerable groups. So how can Montreal detect whether COVID-19 cases are increasing or decreasing in the city? 

Wastewater testing is set to replace PCR testing to assess the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases. For 6 months, wastewater testing was taking place in Montreal, Quebec City and 63 other locations across Canada apart of a pilot project that ended in December 2021. The City of Montreal has decided to resurrect the project to track COVID-19 cases in lieu of limited PCR testing. Those infected with COVID-19, even without symptoms, will shed the virus in their waste.

Catherine Hankins, co-chair of Canada's COVID-19 task force & professor of public & population health at McGill University believes waste water testing is vital in assessing COVID-19 rates. She says wastewater testing can also detect which variants are infecting the public.

While wastewater testing seems to be the best way of assessing COVID-19 rates aside from PCR testing, what other forms of assessing the increase and decrease of COVID-19 infections can we rely on?

Hankins said there are three other methods, however they are less successful than wastewater assessments and PCR testing. She said we can also assess rates of hospitalizations, levels of antibodies in blood and antigen tests. Hankins noted that there needs to be a way to report at home antigen tests.

The province has failed to invest in long term care homes, also known as CHSLDs. During the pandemic’s first wave, Quebec reported 4,836 deaths in elder care and long term care homes, accounting for 64 per cent of the overall death toll. CHSLDs are still facing COVID outbreaks. 

Hankins said the virus is circulating in 20% of CHSLDs.

So what does Hankins think of Montreal and the rest of the province reopening? She said she's hesitant to remove masks, but noted that the public is tired of the pandemic and mandates. Hankins said loickdown is intended to be temporary, but has been extended to a long period of time. She said the way to move forward is through wide-access to vaccines, as cases are severe in unvaccinated. She also recommended for the public to keep wearings masks and use their judgement.