Pasadena, Calif. (November, 2020) – Innova Medical Group, Inc. (IMG) has partnered with the UK Government in its roll out of whole city screening and testing, beginning in Liverpool, with its INNOVA SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test Kits.
Innova Medical’s lateral flow antigen test uses nasal and throat swab samples to screen for infection, with highly accurate results in as little as 15-minutes. This test can be easily and safely administered anywhere, on both asymptomatic and symptomatic people, without costly delays and the need for a full-scale laboratory. With its low cost per test, about the same as a coffee and biscuit in London, at-risk populations and many with inequitable access to healthcare, can achieve peace-of-mind with a negative result. U.K. Government data showed the IMG rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test screened asymptomatic individuals with 98.98 percent accuracy.
Dr. Susan Hopkins, Incident Director at Public Health England, said, “The tests we are using in Liverpool are accurate, especially in finding people who are infectious at that moment in time and so are more likely to pass it on to others. Part of the purpose of working with Liverpool to roll out whole city testing is to better understand how these tests work in the field, improve understanding of why people get tested, and the impact of this approach on reducing the transmission rate.”
Using the National Health Service (NHS COVID-19) app, people can book a test and later input their test results.
Individuals taking part in the roll out of Operation Moonshot will be notified of positive or negative results by text or email. With this important test-and-trace system in place, public health authorities can diagnose cases, isolate infected patients, trace their contacts, and implement stringent infection control policies to reduce outbreaks.
With colder months and the holiday season ahead, the risk of virus transmission accelerates with more indoor gatherings and travel. If people do not know they have COVID-19, it is unlikely they will take precautions to prevent virus spread. Research studies show that to achieve disease control both asymptomatic, people who are infected but never develop symptoms, and pre-symptomatic, infected people who develop symptoms later, must be isolated.
Under Operation Moonshot, the UK Government hopes to flatten the curve by employing proactive, rather than reactive, measures in its COVID-19 response. Up to 1-in-5 United Kingdom coronavirus infections present with no symptoms, but they are still contagious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says up to 40 percent of infected people are asymptomatic and should be tested if they have been exposed. Typically, a person develops symptoms 5 days after being infected; however, infectivity was found to be highest a day before symptom onset. After symptoms, such as a cough, fever, and shortness of breath, first appear, a person can remain contagious for at least ten days.
The Innova Rapid Antigen Test quickly identifies infectiousness. The lateral flow test can identify people with a high viral load who are the most likely to spread the virus. Daniel Elliott, President of Innova Medical Group, Inc., said, “Our lateral flow device incorporates a German nitrocellulose membrane partially composed of nanoparticles of colloidal gold. [ Colloidal gold is nanoparticles of gold in a liquid solution. These gold nanoparticles are coated in such a way that they detect Covid antibodies. CP ] This advanced, proprietary technology combined with our room temperature reagent, allows testing at point-of-care settings such as workplaces, universities, and airports.”
GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN AND PRODUCTION
Innova Medical Group Inc. offers a global supply chain including the innovative and respected firms, GE Healthcare (USA) and Sartorius (Germany). IMG secured exclusive manufacturing and distribution agreements for its best-in-class portfolio of screening and diagnostic tests. By the end of November 2020, IMG will produce millions of kits per day in its Brea, California plant, combined with activity from plants in other global locations. After being selected over a large number of submissions to take part in Operation Moonshot, IMG is also exploring options for production in the United Kingdom.
The Innova test carries a CE Marking indicating that this IVD device complies with the European In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices Directive (98/79/EC). This device may be legally commercialized in the European Union (EU). For the Silo, Julie R. Manley.
About Innova Medical Group
Innova Medical Group, Inc. (IMG), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pasaca Capital (Pasadena, Calif.). IMG strategically pivoted and leveraged its expertise in Healthcare and Medical Devices to create an ecosystem to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Innova Medical Ecosystem is delivering millions of tests every day to satisfy the diverse, point-of-care requirements of the world’s governments, large corporations, and institutions. IMG offers a global supply chain including the innovative and respected firms, GE Healthcare (USA), and Sartorius (Germany). IMG secured exclusive manufacturing and distribution agreements for its best-in-class portfolio of screening and diagnostic tests. For more information, visit www.innovamedgroup.com.
The uncertainty of vaccine delivery and new variants for Ontario
My constituency, Haldimand/Norfolk returned to the Orange-Restrict on Tuesday, February 16 as Ontario faces the uncertainty of vaccine delivery and the arrival of new COVID-19 variants.
The move was based on a general improvement in trends of key indicators, including lower transmission of the virus, improving hospital capacity and available public health capacity to conduct rapid case and contact management.
The measures for Haldimand-Norfolk’s move to Orange-Restrict are outlined in O. Reg. 364/20. Check with your local public health unit and municipality for additional advice, recommendations or instructions.
Businesses or organizations must operate in compliance with regulatory requirements and the advice, recommendations and instructions of public health officials, including any advice, recommendations or instructions on physical distancing, cleaning or disinfecting. If you have questions about what will be open or impacts to your business or employment, call the Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659. In addition to provincial restrictions, local health units can implement restrictions above or beyond those of the province.
Recognizing the risk posed by new variants of COVID, Ontario is introducing an “emergency brake” to allow the Chief Medical Officer of Health, in consultation with the local medical officer of health, to immediately advise moving a region into Grey-Lockdown. Local medical officers of health also have the ability to issue Section 22 orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to target specific transmission risks in the community.
Ontario has implemented a six-point plan to deal with the new variants of concern, which includes mandatory on-arrival testing of international travelers, enhanced screening and sequencing, maintaining public health measures to keep people safe, strengthening case and contact management to track the spread of new cases, enhanced protections for vulnerable populations, and leveraging the latest data to inform public health decisions.
The government is working closely with public health units and hospitals who are playing a critical role in the vaccine rollout. More information will be made available to the public about when and where they can receive a vaccine when their turn comes. To stay informed about Ontario’s vaccine plan please visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca
The federal government states that the Pfizer reductions are a result of a temporary delay and Pfizer indicates that Canada will receive its full allotment of doses before March 31, 2021. We remain committed to vaccinating our most vulnerable and administering second doses as quickly as we receive vaccines from the federal government.
The decision to postpone March Break was made on the best advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and public health officials and following consultations with many local medical officers of health. Keeping kids in class during March Break is likely to limit opportunities for congregation – especially amid the concern of new variants. This is about protecting the progress we’ve made in lowering community cases and making sure kids can remain learning in person. Hopefully, the numbers are down by the time the school break arrives in April.
Our government has been clear this is not a re-opening or a ‘return to normal’ and it is essential Ontarians continue following public health and workplace safety measures including staying at home as much as possible and not engaging in any social gatherings with people outside of their household.
Toby Barrett MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk.
Erin O’Toole responds to updated COVID-19 pandemic projections
November 19, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA, ON – The Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and the
Official Opposition, today released a statement following a briefing on the
government’s projected COVID-19 numbers:
“Today I met with Justin Trudeau and was briefed on the modelling of new cases of
COVID-19 that the federal government expects in Canada in the coming weeks.
“What struck me was that 11 months after news about the spread of COVID-19 emerged,
after thousands of lives and millions of jobs have been lost, and hundreds of
billions of dollars has been added to the national debt, we as a country are worse
off than we were at the start of the pandemic.
“We are in this position because the government failed to give Canadians the ability
to rapidly and frequently test for COVID-19; has failed to tell Canadians how they
plan to deliver a vaccine; and failed to be transparent with Canadians about what
COVID-19 related information they are using to make decisions that affect lives and
jobs.
“Canadians need to see a real plan to test, trace, and isolate those who are
infected. Shutting down the entire country again is simply not a solution. Today, I
am calling on Justin Trudeau to finally do what he should have done months ago to
protect Canadians’ lives and their jobs. He must immediately:
* Deploy widespread access to rapid testing for all Canadians, including providing
access to at-home tests, to stop the spread of the virus while allowing workers to
go to their jobs and for families to be safely reunited;
* Develop more effective and targeted measures to protect, isolate, and support
those infected with COVID-19;
* Explain to Canadians how, when, and where they will be able to get a vaccine when
it becomes available;
* Provide rapid COVID-19 tests for all travellers entering Canada; and
* Share with Canadians more timely information about the locations and sources of
community spread.
“Some regions are now seeing rapidly rising numbers, but Canadians have yet to see a
detailed plan on testing and vaccine deployment. The Liberal government is revealing
the risks of the second wave but have not learned the lessons from the first.
Canadians can count on me to ensure we push for a smarter response.”
Erin O’Toole commente les nouvelles projections sur la pandémie de COVID-19
19 novembre 2020
POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE
OTTAWA (Ontario) – L’hon. Erin O’Toole, le chef des conservateurs du Canada et de
l’Opposition officielle, a fait la déclaration suivante aujourd’hui à la suite d’une
séance d’information sur les projections du gouvernement relatives à la pandémie de
COVID-19 :
« Aujourd’hui, j’ai rencontré Justin Trudeau et il m’a informé de la modélisation
des nouveaux cas de COVID-19 auxquels le gouvernement fédéral s’attend au Canada au
cours des prochaines semaines.
« Ce qui m’a frappé est que 11 mois après que nous avons appris la propagation de la
COVID-19, que des milliers de vies et des millions d’emplois ont été perdus, et que
des centaines de milliards de dollars ont été ajoutés à la dette nationale, notre
pays est en plus mauvaise posture qu’au début de la pandémie.
« Nous sommes dans cette situation parce que le gouvernement échoue à permettre aux
Canadiens d’être testés rapidement et fréquemment pour la COVID-19, échoue à dire
aux Canadiens comment il prévoit fournir un vaccin, et échoue à être transparent
avec les Canadiens sur l’information qu’il utilise pour prendre des décisions qui
ont une incidence sur la vie et les emplois des Canadiens.
« Les Canadiens ont besoin d’un vrai plan pour tester, rechercher et isoler les
personnes infectées. Une nouvelle fermeture complète du pays n’est tout simplement
pas une solution. Aujourd’hui, je presse Justin Trudeau d’enfin faire ce qu’il
aurait dû faire il y a des mois pour protéger la vie et les emplois des Canadiens.
Il doit immédiatement :
* Assurer un accès global à des tests de dépistage rapide pour tous les Canadiens,
notamment des tests à domicile, pour stopper la propagation du virus tout en
permettant aux gens d’aller travailler et aux familles de se réunir de manière
sécuritaire ;
* Élaborer des mesures plus efficaces et plus ciblées pour protéger, isoler et
soutenir les personnes qui ont la COVID-19 ;
* Expliquer aux Canadiens comment, quand et où ils pourront recevoir un vaccin quand
il sera disponible ;
* Fournir des tests de dépistage rapide de la COVID-19 à tous les voyageurs qui
entrent au Canada ; et
* Fournir aux Canadiens de l’information plus opportune sur les endroits et les
sources de la propagation communautaire.
« Certaines régions voient une augmentation rapide des chiffres, mais les Canadiens
attendent toujours un plan détaillé sur les tests et la distribution d’un vaccin. Le
gouvernement libéral révèle les risques de la deuxième vague, mais il n’a pas tiré
de leçons de la première. Les Canadiens peuvent compter sur moi pour assurer que
nous obtenons une meilleure réponse. »