In May 2020, CDL launched the CDL Vision Council – a group of business leaders of large corporations and thought leaders like Mark Carney and Margaret Atwood. The Vision Council’s mission: Identify the primary problems at the root of the crisis to provide insight into what types of technology-driven solutions might have a first-order impact on stimulating economic activity, restoring or creating jobs, and enhancing society such that human civilization emerges stronger and more stable than before the COVID-19 crisis began. This group discussed and debated a number of topics. As the virtues of rapid testing kept resurfacing as a key piece of the recovery puzzle, a small group of CEOs decided to move beyond talking and take action.
The CDL Rapid Screening Consortium is a private-led, not-for-profit initiative with the goal of establishing a robust rapid screening system and operational implementation strategy to be delivered as a public good to Canada and then the world. The Consortium is led by Creative Destruction Lab. This is an unprecedented collaboration among businesses, researchers, and government working together on a singular public-interest objective. Founding consortium members included: Air Canada, CPPIB, Genpact, Loblaw, Magna, MDA, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Nutrien, Rogers, Scotiabank, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Suncor.
Why should businesses implement a workplace rapid screening system? Data from 2020/21 shows that people in workplaces are at the greatest risk of being infected with COVID-19. The workplace rapid screening system protects employees by reducing the likelihood of a shutdown due to an outbreak, and providing an extra layer of protection for employees at work. Rapid screens play an important role in detecting infectious individuals, even post-vaccination during this period of uncertainty with variants of concern and continued transmission globally. Screening is critical during the next phase of re-opening in Canada where there is risk of introducing variants into workplaces.
CDL RSC has a simple onboarding process for any organization in Canada to deploy a rapid screening program in their workplace. The solution is sector-agnostic and easily translates to organizations of all sizes. All participating organizations commit to providing Pay-It-Forward time to help others launch screening programs through collaboration, shared resources, and lessons learned. The Consortium has also replicated its success in the United States.
More than 500 organizations participate in the consortium including BMO, CBC/Radio-Canada, Canadian Sport Centres (Atlantic, Calgary, Pacific, Ontario), CIBC, Covenant House, Giant Tiger, Jays Care Foundation, Sun Life Financial, University of Toronto, WestJet, and more. Currently, 640 screening sites are operational across Canada in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.