Symptomatic COVID-19 testing coming to select Ontario pharmacies

Ontario residents with COVID-19 symptoms will soon be able to get tested at many more locations.

A provincial government source tells CityNews that symptomatic testing will be coming to any pharmacy in the province that decides to opt-in to a new program.

Once the program launches, individuals who come down with COVID-19 symptoms, or have been in close contact with a confirmed case, will be able to get a PCR swab test at a participating pharmacy.

Any pharmacies that opt-in will be able to give out the PCR tests and participate in a drop-off program for take-home tests. The at-home testing will be similar to the system being currently being implemented at public schools across the province.

All participating pharmacies are expected to implement and follow infection prevention and control measures in order to protect staff, patients and customers against the virus.

The measures include:

• dedicated space to perform specimen collection
• physical distancing
• time between tests to allow for cleaning and avoid queuing
• wearing masks inside pharmacies
• performing routine environmental cleaning.

The province says pharmacies should also consider ways to optimize ventilation within the pharmacy to maximize airflow. Participating locations should also provide signage warning all customers that symptomatic testing is happening on the premises.

Once the new program launches all participating locations will be listed on the government of Ontario website.

Previously, anyone seeking a COVID-19 test at a pharmacy in the province needed to be asymptomatic. Ontario will become the first province in Canada to allow symptomatic testing within local pharmacies.

Last month, the Ford government announced all publicly funded schools in Ontario will receive take-home PCR tests beginning in mid-November.