The Ontario government is providing free COVID-19 testing at pharmacies in the province.
As of Friday, up to 60 pharmacies in Ontario will begin offering testing by appointment only, with further locations coming online in the coming weeks.
The government says this initiative is designed to expand testing capacity well beyond the province’s 150 assessment centres, including the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre which is backlogged with testing.
“I have to thank Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, and the independent pharmacies who have stepped up in a big way to help expand testing to more people in the province. With everyone pitching in, we are well on our way to reaching our goal of 50,000 tests a day and stopping the spread of COVID-19,” said Premier Doug Ford.
The expansion of COVID-19 testing to pharmacies has been anticipated for several weeks.
It is part of the province’s plan to prepare the health system for a second wave of COVID-19.
For now, there are no Thunder Bay pharmacies on the initial list of locations providing the coronavirus testing.
