There are 13 Shoppers Drug Mart locations in Southwestern Ontario that can now test for the novel coronavirus.
Loblaw Public Relations said the pharmacies will offer COVID-19 testing for high priority people who do not have any symptoms or reason to believe they may have COVID-19.
Under criteria established by the province, high priority people include the following:
- Residents or workers in long-term care home
- Visitors to a long-term care home
- Residents or workers in homeless shelter
- International students that have passed their 14-day quarantine period
- Farm workers
- Individuals who require a COVID-19 test for international travel clearance
- Self-identified Indigenous people
Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Friday that testing would begin in a number of Ontario cities, including Brantford, Brights Grove, Cambridge, Chatham, Kitchener-Waterloo, Niagara Falls, Sarnia, St. Catharines, Stratford, St. Thomas, Windsor, and Woodstock.
“We have had great cooperation with our provincial counterparts since the onset of this pandemic, and I am thankful for the Premier’s rapid response to this urgent appeal,” London Mayor Ed Holder said on Friday.
“There are a number of benefits to this service, including the convenient locations and hours of pharmacies, and the separation of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients,” Loblaw Public Relations said in a statement.
“We are proud to be a part of the solution for our communities and grateful for the opportunity to do so.”
Starting Tuesday, the following Shoppers Drug Mart stores will be offering COVID-19 tests:
London:
395 Southdale Rd. E, London
603 Fanshawe Park Rd. W, London
3090 Colonel Talbot Rd., London
St. Thomas:
107 Edward St., St. Thomas
Windsor:
3100 Howard Ave., Windsor
7720 Tecumseh Rd. E, Windsor
1760 Huron Church Rd., Windsor
Sarnia:
1206 Michigan Ave., Sarnia
Bright’s Grove:
2600 Lakeshore Rd., Bright’s Grove
Brantford:
320 Colborne St. W, Brantford
Chatham:
416 St Clair St., Chatham
Stratford:
511 Huron St., Stratford
Woodstock:
333 Dundas St., Woodstock
–With files from Global’s Matthew Trevithick