Ontario providing free rapid tests through grocery stores, pharmacies

Ontario is updating its COVID-19 testing strategy and once again expanding the use of rapid antigen tests (RAT) by providing free access through pharmacies and grocery stores.

The Ford government says tests will be available to the public starting on Feb. 9 and can be accessed at over 2,300 participating locations through pickup or online order. Up to 5.5 million tests will be made available per week and up to 44 million over the next eight weeks.

Health Minister Christine Elliott announced the expansion of testing in a news conference on Wednesday morning.

“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.”

The free tests will be limited to one box per household with each box containing five tests.

Targeted distribution of tests for vulnerable populations will be made available in 15 high priority neighbourhoods through health centres, places of worship and food banks.

Participating retailers providing free tests for the public include Walmart, Longo’s Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart. A list of participating locations can be found here.

Source: Ontario Ministry of Health

Sources confirmed to CityNews that 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.

Elliott says despite the millions of rapid tests becoming available, it will not change the provinces reopening timeline for now.

“We believe that masking is going to be important for some time to come,” Elliott said. “We are not in the clear just yet.”

Elliott did say that the province will lift the directive in the coming days that will allow for elective and non-urgent surgeries to resume.

Read more:

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Ontario altered its PCR testing strategy at the end of December, saving those tests for the most vulnerable residents and increasing reliance on rapid tests.

The Ministry of Health says positive tests for a symptomatic person should be treated as a confirmed case and that person and their household would be required to self-isolate. Two negative tests within two days for symptomatic individuals would only require them to isolate until their symptoms start to improve.

People who are fully vaccinated are required to self-isolate for five days following the onset of symptoms. Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised individuals who test positive are still required to self-isolate for 10 days.

The province says the backlog in PCR testing has mostly been resolved with the worst of the Omicron wave in the rearview. As of Feb. 6, the province says 83.5 per cent of tests were processed within one day and 96.1 per cent of results were processed in two days.

Ontario provided free rapid antigen test kits at malls and liquor stores in December ahead of the holidays. Many reported long wait times and difficulties accessing tests with Ontarians scrambling to get a hold of some before holiday gatherings.

The Ministry of Health says the province requested more than 68 million rapid tests for the month of January. Over 75 million tests have been distributed in the province since November 2020.

With files from CityNews reporter Richard Southern