Hundreds line up for rapid tests on last day of handout at Union Station

Hundreds of people lined up at Union Station on Wednesday to get free rapid COVID-19 tests — the last day Metrolinx was handing them out at the transit hub.

Officials started to give away around 1,000 test kits at 7 a.m. but they were all handed out before 8 a.m.

People started lining up around 3 a.m., in the hopes of getting one.

22 minutes in and the rapid tests are still being handed out at Union station. @MetrolinxSpox helping with distribution. 1000 tests expected to be handed out today – last day tests will be avail at this location. @breakfasttv pic.twitter.com/gXpEi2QEd6

— Tammie Sutherland (@citytammie) December 22, 2021

Gone in minutes! About 1000 free Covid-19 test kits handed out at Union Station this morning. Those first in line had been waiting since 3am. This is last day free kits being given out here due to overcrowding concerns. Remaining stock has been redistributed to other sites pic.twitter.com/w0JFPJiWpx

— carl hanstke (@carlCityNews) December 22, 2021

Huge crowds turned out on Monday and Tuesday to get these tests. The transit agency said given the concern about crowding at Union Station, it has cancelled the test giveaways scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

All remaining kits will be redistributed to other pop-up locations, which include Yorkdale Mall, Upper Canada Mall and Unionville GO Station.

Rapid tests were also being handed out at Unionville GO Station on Wednesday. Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said 1,000 kits — with five tests in each — were given out.

Last week, the province announced its holiday plan to distribute two million free rapid tests in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

The tests were to be given out at LCBO stores, malls, libraries and transit hubs. Many complained about waiting in lines for hours, only to be turned away as the test kits were quickly depleted.

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With files from Charlene Close and Michael Talbot of CityNews