While Ontarians prepare for another pandemic holiday — this time with the uber-contagious Omicron variant hastily spreading across the province — the race for the RATs (rapid antigen tests) is on.
To help curb transmission and “provide an additional layer of protection” the government has begun distributing the rapid tests at high-traffic locations including malls, libraries and transit hubs as part of its blitz for residents to easily test themselves over the holidays.
Millions of tests will also be available at 100 LCBO locations in a partnership with the Crown-owned Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The busiest locations will start to see tests arrive in the coming days.
“The LCBO supports yesterday’s provincial announcement related to the availability of COVID-19 rapid tests at select retail locations,” a spokesperson said, amid backlash over the ethics of distributing tests at liquor stores to communities who do not drink alcohol.
Customers will be asked to line up to get a test from the checkout, even if they’re not making a purchase.
Twenty-one Toronto LCBO’s will have rapid tests available. A full list of stores can be found here.
One person is entitled to one rapid test kit, subject to supply. Those who have been exposed to a positive case or have symptoms of the virus are asked not to pick up a rapid test and instead, must visit a designated testing spot.
As long lines formed early on at many locations the morning after the rapid test blitz was announced, Ontarians proved to be eager to get their hands on a kit. Some spots ran out of supply before the day’s end.
Rapid tests are not as accurate as the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests done at designated testing centres, and do not diagnose COVID-19. If a person receives a positive result on a rapid test, they must self-isolate and seek out a PCR test to confirm if they have the virus.
Companies like Switch Health, a private-sector COVID testing organization that also offers paid tests at Pearson airport, are involved in the blitz, confirmed Jordan Paquet, vice-president of public affairs. The company was already spotted Wednesday at 10 Bay Street and the Eglinton subway station handing out tests to passersby.
Although rapid tests have been distributed for free for months to businesses for their employees, they currently cost around $40 at a pharmacy.
Some health experts and residents have called for easier access to rapid tests throughout the pandemic — many pointing to Nova Scotia as a precedent after the province distributed nearly 400,000 tests in a day through its library system.
As of Dec. 14, Ontario has distributed over 45.8 million rapid tests to settings like schools, hospitals and workplaces, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said, noting this total adds up to “significantly more than all other provinces combined.”
A total of 11 million tests were given to public school students ahead of their holiday break.
“Ontario deploys every single test received from the federal government,” the ministry’s spokesperson said. “This is why Minister (Christine) Elliott recently wrote to her federal counterpart Minister (Jean-Yves) Duclos about the limited number of Health Canada approved rapid tests compared to other jurisdictions such as the U.K.”
Ontario is “directly procuring” additional rapid tests where possible to fulfil supply needs over the coming weeks, the spokesperson added.
For those who are able to pay for a test, they can also be ordered online through companies like The Canadian Shield, who sell a five pack for around $50.
Residents can continue to check Ontario.ca/holidaytesting to find out if a pop-up rapid test site is in their area. The website is updated weekly, a spokesperson said.
Additional pop-ups will be added upon confirmation by individual locations.
Here’s where rapid tests will be distributed on Dec. 17:
- Yorkdale mall Time, during mall hours
- Square One Shopping Centre, during mall hours
- Scarborough Town Centre, during mall hours
- Innovation Centre (325 Front St., Toronto), from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Richmond-Adelaide Centre (120 Adelaide St. W, Toronto), from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Water Park Place (10/20 Bay St., Toronto), from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Here’s where rapid tests will be distributed on Dec. 18:
- Yorkdale mall, during mall hours
- Rideau Heights Community Centre (85 MacCauley St., Kingston), from 12:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Peterborough Farmers Market (136 Lansdowne St. W), from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Peterborough Memorial Centre (151 Lansdowne St.), from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- GO-VAXX — Sandalwood Square Shopping Centre (30-70 Bristol Road E, Mississauga), from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Here’s where rapid tests will be distributed on Dec. 19:
- Hillcrest Mall (9350 Yonge St., Richmond Hill Mall), during mall hours
- Upper Canada Mall (17600 Yonge St., Newmarket), during mall hours
Article From: The Star
Author: Irelyne Lavery
