Here's where you can pick up a free rapid antigen test in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario this week
A COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test being handed out at LCBO stores in London, Ont. is seen Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (Danny Tomasi / CTV News)
The Ontario government will be handing out free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests in Ottawa, Kingston and Cornwall over the next week.
On Saturday, test kits were handed out at the Rideau Centre in downtown Ottawa and at the Hazeldean Mall in Kanata. More sites are planned next week at Queen's University in Kingston and the Cornwall Square in Cornwall.
As part of a testing blitz, the Ontario government is providing up to two million rapid tests free of charge at high-traffic locations across the province.
The Ontario government announced changes to the rules for redeploying the test kits, with pop-up sites handing out the free rapid antigen test kits until next weekend.
Ontario announced the rapid antigen tests for the most vulnerable sectors will now be recommended for three purposes:
- Test-to-work purposes to meet critical workforce needs in the highest risk settings
- For people without symptoms as screening, including health care workers
- For people with COVID-19 symptoms. If two consecutive RATs, separated by 24-48 hours, are both negative, the symptomatic individual is less likely to be infected
Here is the list of locations for rapid antigen test pick-up locations in Ottawa, Kingston and Cornwall:
SATURDAY, JAN. 8 - OTTAWA
- 10 a.m. Hazeldean Mall on Eagleson Road in Kanata
- 10 a.m. CF Rideau Centre on Rideau Street
MONDAY, JAN. 10 – KINGSTON
- 10 a.m. Queen's University (Queen's Centre) at 99 University Ave.
TUESDAY, JAN. 11 – KINGSTON
- 10 a.m. Queen's University (Queen's Centre) at 99 University Ave.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12 – KINGSTON
- 10 a.m. Queen's University (Queen's Centre) at 99 University Ave.
THURSDAY, JAN. 13 – KINGSTON, CORNWALL
- 7 a.m. Cornwall Square* – 1 Water Street East, Cornwall
- 10 a.m. Queen's University (Queen's Centre) at 99 University Ave. in Kingston.
FRIDAY, JAN. 14 – KINGSTON, CORNWALL
- 7 a.m. Cornwall Square* – 1 Water Street East, Cornwall
- 10 a.m. Queen's University (Queen's Centre) at 99 University Ave. in Kingston.
SATURDAY, JAN. 15
- 7 a.m. Cornwall Square* – 1 Water Street East, Cornwall
At sites distributing tests, there is a limit of one test kit per person.
Access to rapid antigen tests will be subject to available supply.
NOTE: Cornwall Square mall says it will using a "controlled ticket system" to distribute rapid antigen tests. Residents are asked to get a ticket on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1-4 p.m. The ticket will show a time to return to receive your rapid test over an "undisclosed three-day period," the mall says. Anyone without a ticket will not be able to receive a test kit.
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