Visitors to P.E.I.'s COVID-19 clinics are receiving their test results "almost always" within 24 hours, says medical microbiologist Dr. Greg German.

German said it might take a little longer on the weekends and at certain clinics where transportation is an issue, but they are working to get the results in a timely manner.

"We're really trying to get all the testing done across the Island by the end of the night," he said in an interview with 

P.E.I.'s drive-thru&nbsp;testing clinics are expanding their hours to keep up with P.E.I.'s demand for COVID-19 testing. German says that Monday is&nbsp;usually the most challenging day based on the number of specimens sent to the lab. One day brought 700 tests, when the average is usually around 300 per day.

He said the number of tests the lab is able to process in a week continues to climb substantially.

"In April, we were able to do 24 tests on Island [per week] and now we are able to do about 3,000 tests on Island [per week] and going to next month, we'd be looking to do upwards of 4,000 tests per week on Island."

He said about 33 per cent of the tests since schools reopened are school-age children.

Chief Public Health Office has received some 'upsetting' remarks during pandemic

Since the start of the pandemic, P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison says her office has received negative comments, in some cases threats, from Islanders in relation to the COVID-19 rules in the province.

Dr. Heather Morrison, taken from Sept 29, 2020 briefing. 

Dr. Heather Morrison

Dr. Heather Morrison, P.E.I.'s chief public health officer, says the majority of Islanders have been supportive and positive while dealing with the pandemic. 

Prince Edward Island still Canada's fastest-growing province

P.E.I. held onto its title as Canada’s most rapidly growing province in 2019-20, based on the percentage of new residents compared to existing ones. But it was also the province that saw the biggest drop in its growth rate as COVID-19 border restrictions took hold.

Premier Dennis King says even with an Atlantic bubble information and screening will continue at the province's points of entry. 

PEI Confederation Bridge checkpoint

The growth rate in new arrivals to Prince Edward Island slowed this year, but the population still grew to reach 159,625 as of July 1. 

'Only one or two days in a month we won't be able to do that. There still is a little bit of transportation challenges,' says medical microbiologist Dr. Greg German.

P.E.I. aiming to deliver COVID-19 results within 24 hours after test

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