Free Rapid Tests Available Each Week at 17 Pharmacy and Grocery Store Locations in Carleton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 9, 2022
OTTAWA – Starting today, 17 participating grocery and pharmacy locations across Carleton will provide free rapid tests while supplies last, with a limit of one box of five tests per household per visit. Participating retailers will receive additional supply from the province each week and have the ability to determine how tests are distributed in order to best serve the community, including through appointment bookings, at checkout or through online orders.
Here is a list of the 17 participating locations in Carleton:
- Moncion’s YIG Gloucester, 685 River Rd, Gloucester, K1V2G2
- Limebank Pharma Plus, 10-3771 Spratt Rd, Gloucester, K1V2P3
- Shopper’s Drug Mart Earl Armstrong, 647 Earl Armstrong Rd, Gloucester, K1V2G2
- Shopper’s Drug Mart, 1-4744 Bank St, Gloucester, K1T0K8
- Findlay Creek Pharmacy, 4-111 Shuttleworth Dr, Findlay Creek, K1T0W7
- Rexall, 1160 Beaverwood Rd, Manotick, K4M1A3
- Shopper’s Drug Mart, 5230 Mitch Owens Rd, Manotick, K4M1B2
- Richmond Village Pharmacy, 6146 Perth St, Richmond, K0A2Z0
- Metcalfe Pharmacy, 8206 Victoria St, Metcalfe, K0A2P0
- Osgoode Pharmacy, 3192 Logan Farm Dr, Osgoode, K0A2W0
- North Gower Pharmacy, 7-2333 Church St, North Gower, K0A2T0
- Browns’ YIG Stittsville, 1251 Main St, Stittsville, K2S2E5
- Shopper’s Drug Mart Stittsville, 5709 Hazeldean Rd, Stittsville, K2S0P6
- Shopper’s Drug Mart Stittsville Main, 101A-1300 Stittsville Main St, Stittsville, K2S1A3
- Food Basics, 5703 Hazeldean Rd., Stittsville, K2S0P6
- Stittsville Whole Health Pharmacy, 1609 Stittsville Main St, Stittsville, K2S1B8
- Hazeldean Pharmacy, B-6150 Hazeldean Rd, Stittsville, K2S2R2
There are over 2,300 participating grocery and pharmacy locations across the province. A list of all participating retailers as well as information on how retail locations are distributing rapid test kits can be found at Ontario.ca/rapidtest. Ontario will be distributing 5 million rapid tests each week for eight weeks through over 2,300 pharmacy and grocery locations across the province, as well as 500,000 each week through community partners in vulnerable communities. In total, the province is making 44 million rapid tests available to the public over the coming weeks.
“I am pleased that so many local pharmacies and grocery stores across Carleton are participating in this initiative by providing free Rapid Antigen Test Kits to the community,” said Goldie Ghamari, MPP for Carleton. “I would also like to thank Councillor George Darouze for his strong advocacy and for working with my office. Together we were able to ensure that the needs of local and rural residents are being met by advocating for test distribution locations in rural communities such as Metcalfe, Osgoode, Richmond and North Gower.”
“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 the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “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.”
To support access to tests for communities that have been impacted disproportionately by COVID-19 and face barriers to testing, including language, income and transportation, lead agencies working as part of the High Priority Communities Strategy will be distributing rapid tests through existing local partnerships, such as community centres, community health centres, places of worship, and food banks. Lead agencies will also have discretion to provide additional boxes depending on individual circumstances, such as a multi-generational home or an immunocompromised family member.
Providing expanded access to free rapid testing kits to the general population builds on Ontario’s comprehensive testing strategy focused on the province’s priority sectors and workplaces. Over 10 million rapid tests are deployed weekly to these sites and any other sector eligible for the Provincial Antigen Screening Program. As of February 8, over 75 million rapid antigen tests have been deployed since November 2020, with over 33 million deployed to priority sectors to provide an additional layer of protection for hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes. Additionally, approximately 26 million tests have been deployed to support school and licensed child care settings.
– 30 –
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Candice Coates, Executive Assistant
Office of Goldie Ghamari, MPP
candice.coates@pc.ola.org
613-257-9522
