Up to 60 pharmacies to offer COVID-19 testing by Friday: Premier Ford

Premier Doug Ford says up to 60 pharmacies across the province will begin to offer COVID-19 tests starting Friday.

The initiative is aimed at taking some pressure off the province’s 147 COVID-19 assessment centres.

Residents in several cities have reported long line-ups and delays in recent weeks.

• Ontario reports 335 new cases of COVID-19, three new deaths

The pharmacies will only test individuals with no symptoms after they have made an appointment.

“If you’re showing symptoms, do not come, I repeat, do not come to the pharmacy,” @fordnation says. Those with symptoms should follow their health care provider’s advice about where to get tested. @CHCHNews

— Lisa Hepfner (@LisaHepfnerCHCH) September 23, 2020

“With a recent increase in the number of cases, we are making sure people have more options for testing to identify cases of COVID-19 early,” said Minister of Health Christine Elliott.

Details on where to get tested for COVID-19 can be found here.

Most of the pharmacies that will soon offer the service are in Toronto, Peel and Ottawa but the government says more pharmacies will be added to the list in the coming weeks.

The testing initiative is the second part of the government’s fall pandemic preparedness plan.

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Ford also says three Ontario hospitals will begin offering saliva testing.