The City of Delta is ensuring its staff and first responders have equipment and testing kits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Tuesday’s special Delta council meeting, civic politicians authorized the purchase of COVID-19 testing equipment (four machines and a six-month supply of testing kits) from Spartan Bioscience (a sole sources provider approved by Health Canada) in the amount of $61,929.
The testing equipment will be utilized by City of Delta employees, Delta Police Department, Delta Fire Department and the Tsawwassen First Nation Service Team.
According to a report from DPD Chief Neil Dubord, the purchase of the COVID-19 testing equipment will ensure the city is well prepared for testing employees as B.C. reopens gradually and should there be a second wave in the fall as predicted by some health professionals.
Dubord said the purchase of the equipment will be equally shared between the police and fire departments and the City of Delta through all three operating budgets.
“It is recommended that the City of Delta commit to a six-month duration with 100 test kits for each month,” said Dubord. “The number of monthly testing kits ordered can be increased if required, dependent on supply availability. Testing kits have a six-month shelf life and will be saved to build an inventory when not required for use. If and when there is a second wave of infection further into the year, the City of Delta and other departments operating under the City, will be well prepared to conduct tests as necessary.”
City manager Sean McGill said this allows them within minutes to test front-line workers, police and fire first responders for COVID-19.
“I think it is extremely important that we are self-sufficient,” added Mayor George Harvie. “We just don’t know how much longer we will have access to the Fraser Health testing facility that we have next door. We don’t know if there is going to be a second wave, but this really allows us to be prepared for the worst, which is extremely important. We can stand on our own.”
