A man from Drummondville discovered this week that traveling during a pandemic has its share of surprises, finding himself forced to cancel his essential business trip to Ecuador after receiving different test results .
Owner of an orthotherapy clinic closed since last March, Frédéric Pagé was soon to reopen in this small South American country.
Aware that he must present proof that he does not have COVID-19, he took a first gargle test on Saturday, which turned out to be negative.
But to get on the plane, he needed a nasopharyngeal swab test in a private clinic.
He therefore went to the Biron laboratories in Brossard on Monday. However, to his surprise, this test was positive for COVID-19.
Not understanding anything, Mr. Pagé contacted public health, which invited him the next day to undergo a new screening at his Drummondville center. The result became negative again.
Unfortunately, written confirmation from the CIUSSS de la Mauricie et du Center-du-Québec did not allow him to fly to Ecuador.
Unlike the United States, where any rapid test is sufficient, only PCR (nasopharyngeal swab) tests taken 72 hours before boarding are permitted in South America.
With doubt sown in his mind, Frédéric Pagé does not know what he intends to do. He is hardly enthusiastic about the idea of taking another plane ticket and paying the private $ 250 back for a new test without being sure of the result.
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