As we enter cold and flu season, Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of health says for the most part, testing for COVID is no longer necessary.

In a media conference Thursday afternoon, Dr. Strang said although rapid tests are still available in the community, they should be saved for those who need anti-viral medication.

“We are making a major shift in our testing approach. During the pandemic, what we had around was COVID and not much of anything else and it was important for people to know whether they had COVID or not. But we are no longer in a pandemic phase. Covid is part of our normal environment, along with other respiratory viruses.”

“You should really only do a test when that test is going to change how you manage or treat a disorder.  For most people now, it really doesn’t make a difference knowing what virus you’re going to have.”

Strang added, it doesn’t make a difference, whether you have COVID or not in what you need to do to keep yourself healthy and recover.

He said, if you are sick with “acute” symptoms, stay home, but when you do go out once feeling better, where a mask for a few days.

You can now book an appointment for COVID and flu shots.