In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, licensed cannabis producers are being asked to assist public health authorities with testing efforts for the deadly virus.
Joanne Garrah, acting director of Health Canada, sent an email to various cannabis industry executives requesting extra lab space to carry out testing for the virus, which has infected almost 7,500 Canadians and resulted in 89 casualties as of Tuesday morning. “Health Canada is working to identify lab capacity that might be available across the country in various sectors, including at licensed cannabis production sites, to assist with supporting COVID-19 testing,” the email notes. “We are currently working to understand the specific needs and related questions, and we will be it touch in the coming days to request more information. If you have lab capacity within your facility and are interested in assisting, please notify us by email.
The country is in dire need of lab space, as epidemiologists have expressed concerns that current testing delays may misrepresent where and how quickly the coronavirus is spreading.Some cannabis companies have already stepped up to help in the country’s COVID-19 efforts.
It has been reported that Village Farms International Inc., Aphria, TerrAscend Corp., WeedMD and CannTrust are all planning donations of PPE in the near future.Want to keep up to date on what’s happening in the world of cannabis? Subscribe to the Cannabis Post newsletter for weekly insights into the industry, what insiders will be talking about and content from across the Postmedia Network.
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