Ontario is hoping to give residents ‘another layer of protection’ against COVID-19 – and this time, the province says help will make its way to the northwest.
Ontario’s Health Minister and Deputy Premier, Christine Elliott, announced on February 9 that starting today, Ontario will be distributing 5 million free COVID-19 rapid test kits each week for eight weeks, through pharmacy and grocery store locations across the province.
Over 2,300 participating locations will be providing the kits while supplies last, with a limit of one box of five tests per household per visit. Retailers will be able to supply the test kits through appointment bookings, at checkout or through online orders.
In Kenora and Dryden, kits will be available at Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart.
In Sioux Lookout, kits will be free at Rexall Pharmacy, Rx Drug Mart and Sioux Lookout Remedys Rx. They can also be found at the Northern Store in Pickle Lake, Pikangikum, Sandy Lake and Sachigo Lake First Nations.
There are no participating pharmacies in Red Lake, Machin, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, Emo, Ear Falls, Rainy River or Fort Frances yet, but more pharmacies and grocery stores will be added to Ontario's distribution network as they're approved.
In December, Ontario had announced a similar initiative to distribute rapid COVID-19 tests at malls and LCBOS across the province – but the vast majority of the 50 participating locations were found in the Greater Toronto Area, and the closest city with free kits was Thunder Bay.
As well, Elliott also says about 500,000 rapid test kits will be made available in vulnerable communities who have been disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, through community health centres, places of worship, food banks and more.
“As we continue to carefully ease public health measures, rapid tests are providing another layer of protection and offer the public an additional tool to confidently do the things they love, like visiting family or dining at their favourite local restaurant,” said Elliott.
“In addition to the millions of rapid tests deployed each week to support priority settings, including hospitals, long-term care homes and schools, working with our retail and community partners we are increasing access to at-home rapid tests.”
Overall, Ontario says they’ll be providing about 44 million rapid tests over the coming weeks.
“Providing expanded access to testing for Ontarians will support the province’s cautious approach to easing public health measures,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health.
“While testing is a critical component in our response to COVID-19, vaccination remains the best defence against the virus and its variants. Over the next few months, we need to continue following the public health measures that remain in place and vaccinate those who have yet to receive their doses to protect our communities and health care system capacity.”
A person who tests positive on a rapid antigen test is no longer required to get a confirmatory PCR or rapid molecular COVID-19 test, and if you do test positive, you must self-isolate immediately.