A local testing manufacturer in Niagara Region says it is ready and willing to work with the Ontario government to provide more PCR tests for COVID-19.

Last week, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health said there are just too many cases of COVID-19 in the community and simply not enough tests.

The province announced PCR testing would be prioritized for Ontarians in critical workforces, including frontline healthcare workers, first responders, and critical infrastructures like energy and food and supply chains.

Jaclyn Ugulini, spokesperson for Norgen Biotek, says the Canadian testing manufacturer can analyze up to 10,000 tests per day. It has been operating in Thorold since 1998.

The federally-recognized company sells same-day or next-day PCR tests for asymptomatic people in the Niagara Region and has huge contracts primarily in the U.S.

Ugulini believes the government should be paying companies like Norgen Biotek for tests that can then be administered to residents for free.

“To see the government put out articles and media and this messaging that there are PCR test shortages when, the reality is, that’s not true. There’s a shortage of free PCR tests,” said Ugulini.

She says the company has made every effort to get permits and Health Canada’s approval to change their testing eligibility.

Norgen Biotek is currently only allowed to test asymptomatic people and the lab would require government approval to test symptomatic people.

Niagara Centre NPD MPP Jeff Burch says he has reached out to the Ministry of Health to let them know Norgen Biotek is an available resource that could help expand testing capacity.

CHCH News has also reached out to the Health Minister’s office, who then forwarded our inquiry to Public Health, but we have not heard back yet.