Toronto 
Ontario has announced that the province will distribute free-of-charge rapid antigen test kits through 2,385 participating grocery stores and pharmacies across the province.
Starting today, 5.5 million rapid antigen tests will be distributed each week for eight weeks and Ontarios can get these from pharmacies, grocery locations and through community partners in vulnerable communities. In total, the province is making 44 million rapid tests available to the public for free over the coming weeks.
There will be a limit of one box of five tests per household.
According to the news release, “The 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.”
“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 Christine Elliott, 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.”
Participating retailers
The list of participating retailers includes (but is not limited to):
- Longo’s (available through Grocery Gateway online orders)
- Walmart (available only through advanced online orders for in-store pick-up): As per the website, “Customers who place a Grocery Pickup order on Walmart.ca/grocery will receive one free COVID-19 rapid antigen test kit with their order at the point of pickup. For select stores that currently don’t offer Grocery Pickup, customers can place a Walmart Pickup order on Walmart.ca to receive one free rapid antigen test kit.”
- Loblaws including drugstore in Fortino’s and Your Independent Grocer, Real Canadian Superstore and Zehrs
- Shoppers Drug Mart: As per the website, “Tests are available at select stores and can be picked up at our Front Cash while supplies last.”
- Sobeys
- The North West Company – List of stores is available on the website.
- Metro and Food Basics
-
- Metro: As per the website, “Each store will have a limited supply of free test kits, which will be distributed from the Customer Service desk on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of one per household. “
- Food Basics: As per the website, “Each store will have a limited supply of free test kits, which will be distributed from the Customer Service desk on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of one per household.”
-
- Rexall pharmacies: As per the website, “Take-Home Rapid Antigen Tests are available at select Rexall Pharmacies in Ontario. These test kits are supplied at no cost by the Ontario government and will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Limit 1 Test Kit Per Household. Limited supply available, while quantities last.”
- Costco Pharmacies
Addresses of places distributing free rapid tests: You can search the addresses of the stores where rapid tests are available here.
According to the news release, the province has directly procured a total of about 157 million rapid tests, including 126 million between December 2021 and January 2022 alone. The province also received 36 million tests from the total 54.3 million rapid tests in January commitment by the federal government.
Ontario also has distributed over 75 million rapid antigen tests since November 2020 including 33 million to hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes and 26 million tests to school and licensed child care settings.
You may like:
