Starting Friday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority says it will be moving all initial notifications for COVID test results to an automated service as the increase of positive cases keeps growing.

Anyone tested for the virus will quickly be informed of both their positive and negative lab test results through either a text message or voice call message notification.

Auto-notification is an efficient and cost effective way to notify individuals of their COVID-19 test results and reach those who have been confirmed as a positive COVID-19 case so they can start self-isolation immediately prior to the phone call from Public Health.

During COVID-19 lab tests at participating testing centres, you will be asked to provide or confirm your telephone number. Based on processing times at the lab, notifications will be sent to those aged 12 years and over regarding their positive or negative COVID-19 lab test result between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Parents/guardians can receive results for dependents under the age of 18 years old.

Positive COVID-19 text and voice message notifications will be followed up with a phone call from public health or a community health nurse within 24 to 48 hours. Additionally, public health will provide the individual with further direction on self-isolation, masking and contact tracing.

These messages will be easily identifiable as coming from the Saskatchewan Health Authority with the short code 89364 for text messages or 306-655-4603 for voice call messages. This system will not require or ask for any financial information or ask you to provide any personal information beyond the information needed to verify or confirm that the correct person has been contacted.