Canadian Coast Guard Circular
16-2021 COVID-19 – Lucira Check It Self-Administered COVID-19 Test Pilot Project

Target audience

Personnel and supernumeraries at a select number of regionally identified Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)/Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) facilities and vessels.

Purpose

This Canadian Coast Guard circular is to provide direction in the use of the Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit as a pilot project for the target audience.

This pilot project is in support of Health Canada to trial this new type of test, which will be available on the market in Canada. Rapid test screening is an additional COVID-19 measure the CCG is using to protect the health and safety of its personnel.

Background

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, CCG has put in place numerous measures to protect the health of its personnel and to prevent the spread of the virus, such as physical distancing, mask wearing, health screening, and additional cleaning measures.

As an additional tool in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, CCG recently began the implementation of rapid test screening in a phased approach as outlined in CCG circular 13-2021 COVID-19 – COVID-19 Rapid Test Screening National Implementation.

Self-Administered COVID-19 rapid test

The Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit is a single-use, self-administered test which can be performed by anyone aged 14 years and older. Its accuracy is comparable to lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and other rapid tests, and provides results in 30 minutes.

CCG regions were provided the opportunity to identify select groups to participate in the pilot project in support of Health Canada. Identified personnel will receive communication directly from their respective region to inform them of their inclusion in the Lucira Check It self-administered COVID-19 test pilot project. Just as with other rapid test screening, participation in the pilot project is voluntary.

Each region has established its own procedures to implement rapid test screening based on applicable provincial, territorial and local public health authority requirements and the same considerations will be applied for the Lucira Check It self-administered COVID-19 test pilot project.

The frequency of rapid test screening with the Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit will be determined by the regions, but for Health Canada's purposes, the ideal frequency is every 3-4 days.

Regions will be responsible for making appropriate arrangements for storage of tests based on guidance from the manufacturer. They will also be responsible for distribution of the tests to the groups identified to participate in the pilot project.

Information on rapid test screening administration will be collected, handled and disposed of by the regions in accordance with the Privacy Act. Information regarding test results will be kept for 30 days, or 2 full crew cycles for individuals joining a vessel, after which it will be destroyed.

By choosing to participate in the Lucira Check It self-administered COVID-19 test pilot project, individuals are expected to communicate test results to their respective regions for each month of the trial using the end user template provided. Positive results must be reported to the individual's immediate supervisor (as per normal reporting protocol).

Using the template to be provided, the regions will report on the number of tests administered, and on the number of positive and negative cases detected through self-administered rapid test screening in a manner that does not attribute test screening results to individuals.

Required action

Personnel and supernumeraries at a select number of regionally identified DFO/CCG facilities and vessels will be offered voluntary rapid test screening with the Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit as an additional tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Preventive health and safety measures currently in place, including physical distancing, hand washing and mask wearing, will continue to apply, and will remain in effect even with a negative result following a self-administered Lucira Check It COVID-19 test.

Volunteers for the Lucira Check It COVID-19 Test Kit, even in the case of a negative result, will also have to meet the requirements outlined in CCG circular 21-2021 COVID-19 - Health Screening Questionnaire for Canadian Coast Guard Personnel and Visitors Accessing CCG-only Regional Facilities and CCG Vessels in order to gain access to CCG vessels or facilities.

Those who choose not to participate in the pilot project will be granted access to CCG vessels or facilities, as long as they meet the requirements outlined in CCG circular 21-2021 COVID-19 - Health Screening Questionnaire for Canadian Coast Guard Personnel and Visitors Accessing CCG-only Regional Facilities and CCG Vessels.

In case of a positive rapid test screening result, the individual will be refused access to the CCG facility or vessel, and will be directed to inform their supervisor, to contact local health authorities for further guidance, and to arrange for nucleic acid-based testing (also called molecular testing or PCR testing), if possible. If required by provincial/territorial/local health authorities, personal information will be shared with them for the purposes of contact tracing. Should an employee or supernumerary test positive while at sea, the same procedures apply as in the case of a symptomatic person on board a vessel.

Enquiries

Enquiries regarding this circular should be directed to:

Director, Operational Personnel and Force Generation
infopol@dfo-mpo.gc.ca