By Bird Bouchard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter – The Ridgetown Independent News
More COVID-19 rapid tests are set to be distributed throughout Ontario this week.
Last week the government of Ontario announced a select number of Ontario pharmacies and grocery stores are distributing COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.
The Ontario government said 5.5 million tests would be distributed each week at more than 2,300 retailers across the province for a period of eight weeks. Some stores will offer take-home testing kits for in-store pick up, while others will provide tests through an online ordering system.
“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 Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott.
While free rapid test kits are available to the general public at thousands of grocery and pharmacy locations across the province, Ridgetown did not make the list.
A list of participating locations shows 13 retailers providing test kits in Sarnia, 14 in Chatham, and 42 in Windsor. Sobey’s, Shoppers Drug Mart, Food Basics and McIntyre Pharmacy Ltd. made the cut for Blenheim, while Shoppers Drug Mart located in Tilbury also made the list.
A full list of locations can be found at Ontario.ca/rapidtest.
