Early morning line-up at Barrhaven rec complex leads to rapid test kit vouchers for some
Posted Dec 21, 2021 04:30:00 PM.
UPDATE: The City of Ottawa says future allotments of Ontario government-supplied rapid antigen testing kits have not yet been received at the Minto Recreation Complex in Barrhaven.
The facility had expected to be able to distribute kits every day this week.
The city says distribution will be delayed and updates about kit availability will be shared on its social media channels.
It's asking residents to avoid going to the complex until the city provides updated times.
===
Lining up in the cold at 4 a.m. paid off of some Ottawa residents looking to secure rapid COVID-19 antigen test kits ahead of the holidays.
The Minto Recreation Complex in Barrhaven was chosen by the provincial government as the only location, beyond local LCBOs, in all of Ottawa to give out free testing kits. It opened at 7 a.m., Tuesday, December 21, so naturally, resident lined up well ahead of time.
The line snaked around a number of city blocks by the time doors opened to the complex, but the testing kits hadn't even arrived at the facility yet.
Residents were given bracelets with a voucher to come back between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., but only 1,000 were given. Hundreds of residents were told to try again on Wednesday.
The rec complex is expected to be giving out tests Thursday and Friday as well.
