Eastern Ontario pharmacies to offer COVID-19 testing to symptomatic customers
Hundreds of pharmacies across Ontario will now be able to offer COVID-19 testing to people showing symptoms of the virus.
Until this point, pharmacies could only test people who were asymptomatic. The Ontario Pharmacists Association says the change will allow easier access to testing for residents and is an important tool in combatting the pandemic.
"So we have up to 1,300 that have expressed interest, and those pharmacies will be on-boarded over the next couple of weeks," says the association's CEO Justin Bates.
One of those pharmacies getting on board with the change, and the only pharmacy participating thus far in Carleton Place, is Seaway Valley Pharmacy. Owner and pharmacist Ebram Ghobrial says pharmacies are the easiest point of care for many in their communities.
"With the winter coming I would say some people will have some symptoms and they are not sure if it is the flu or COVID," says Ghobrial. "So in order for them to be sure, they would like to perform such a test."
Following the announcement, there were questions about the safety of others in the pharmacies when symptomatic patients enter the building for COVID-19 testing. To combat this, Bates says all symptomatic tests must be done by appointment booked ahead of time.
"So no co-mingling going in, shopping in other aisles, which will reduce or mitigate the risk of other patrons who are shopping from getting the virus," Bates tells CTV News.
Another option available to pharmacists is performing the tests outdoors. Bates says the test must be performed on the pharmacy property, meaning it could be done outside the front door, in a parking lot, or even at a vehicle window.
"If I notice that they have symptoms and it's more than severe," explains Ghobrial. "What I can do is ask them to stay in their car out here in the parking lot and I can go out there to take the specimen."
To find a pharmacy near you that will conduct a symptomatic COVID test, visit the province's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.