Moose Jaw woman calls for clarity on COVID test results

Tasha Dobni started the Easter long weekend with the same stress she’s felt for nearly a week waiting for the answer to a big question—does she have COVID-19?

The Moose Jaw woman called 811 for an appointment after noticing some COVID-like symptoms, the test was conducted on March 30.

At the appointment Dobni said she was given information on when to expect results, how to access them and what to do while she waited.

Navigating that system has been anything but simple, according to Dobni.

“I’m finding it frustrating, so how many other people are finding this frustrating? You just want to give up,” she said.

While trying to sign up for an eHealth account Dobni said she encountered multiple challenges that she believes could be avoided with clearer instructions.

During her first call for help Dobni said she was told the information had to be entered on a laptop or desktop computer not a tablet or phone and that everything had to be done in capital letters.

“Sure enough once I do all that it takes my SGI information and I get to the next screen where it wants my health card information (but) it doesn’t take it and I had to call (eHealth) back,” she said. “The guy said to me you can’t use spaces…how hard is it to just design a program and indicate that (format rules) on your website?” 

Dobni’s frustration is compounded by the fact she works in the essential agriculture industry in Regina, a COVID variant hot spot. 

She feels the instructions aren’t clear about when she can return to work after being tested.

“Am I supposed to isolate for seven until I get a notification?” she wondered. “The testing is flawed, the whole system is flawed.”

The 50-year-old believes a lot of the confusion is down to the government not providing clear detailed instructions to people who are getting tested.

“It’s just the communication and then also the actual set-up and process of the Saskatchewan Government’s website and the eHealth website.”

650 CKOM/980 CJME sent a request for comment to the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Ministry of Health.

The ministry can’t provide information until Monday, according to a response.