In a technical briefing today, Ministry of Health officials said that rapid antigen tests would be made available to the general public starting today.
The province has committed to distributing 5.5 million tests per week to more than 2,300 locations across the province for the next eight weeks.
The tests will be available at participating retailers. One box of five tests will be available per household per visit. Retailers will each determine how they will distribute the tests, with some booking appointments for pick up. While tracking of the distribution of tests to individual households is not a requirement, officials asked that people respect everyone’s right to access and not stockpile supply.
A ministry representative said that the move is intended to satisfy demand for the tests, after supply was constrained internationally following the onset of the Omicron wave. The tests can provide peace of mind—two negative tests spaced 24 hours apart can reduce the required isolation time for people with symptoms and their family members—as well as cause people to take more care in when they do experience symptoms.
The tests being distributed are in addition to those already being sent to school and childcare settings.
The province will monitor need and demand for the tests following this eight-week period to decide whether it will continue.
A list of participating retailers will be published here later today.
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