Ford government to provide free rapid antigen tests via pharmacies, grocery stores: Sources
Posted February 8, 2022 5:28 pm.
Last Updated February 9, 2022 7:47 am.
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott will announce Wednesday morning the province’s plans to expand access to free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, sources tell CityNews.
According to the sources, the free tests will be distributed through several channels including pharmacies and grocery stores, starting later this week.
The free tests will be limited to one box per household with each box containing five tests.
Sources say the free distribution is possible because Doug Ford’s government has been able to directly procure rapid tests in an effort to stabilize supply, and is now in a position to expand access to them.
Of the 54.3 million rapid tests that the federal government committed to provide Ontario last month, 36.4 million have so far been delivered.
The province anticipates demand for rapid tests will grow from one million to 18 million per week with changes from PCR testing edibility and the expanded RAT testing strategy in place.
The Ministry of Health says the province requested more than 68 million tests for the month of January.
Elliott is schedule to update the rollout of rapid tests at 11:30 a.m. You can hear the news conference live on CityNews 680.
