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Sep 29, 2020 10:26 PM -

Federal government strikes agreement with Abbott to buy 7.9 million rapid-test devices

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People wait in line for hours at a COVID assessment centre at Mount Sinai Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

The federal government has reached an agreement with American company Abbott to buy 7.9 million rapid-test devices once they are approved by Health Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, is pushing back against calls for Ottawa to quickly approve rapid tests for COVID-19, saying the decision is ultimately up to federal scientists.

Canada's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says rolling out inaccurate COVID-19 tests can lead to further infections if there is a large number of false negatives.

Public Procurement Minister Anita Anand says with the numbers of COVID-19 cases rising, now more than every, each and every one of us must redouble our efforts to stop the spread.

She says testing and tracing are key to keep community spread at a minimum.

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