Ontario extends free rapid COVID-19 tests for public into the summer

The province has announced it will continue to offer free rapid COVID-19 tests in Ontario until at least July 31.

“As an important tool that helps the province manage and live with COVID-19, the government will continue to provide free rapid antigen tests to the general public through existing channels like grocery stores and pharmacies,”  Alexandra Hilkene, spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Health, said in a statement emailed to Global News.

Data released on March 17 by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said the province’s wastewater signal had stopped declining and was increasing slightly.

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases expert with University Health Network, said Monday it is “pretty clear that there’s a growing burden of COVID in many communities across the province.”

Opposition parties at Queen’s Park said the province needed to take immediate action.

“It’s obvious that a sixth wave is upon us,” said Liberal House Leader John Fraser.

Based on that, he said the government should broaden access to tests and put more resources into vaccinating people who haven’t yet received their shots.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath echoed the call for expanded testing access and said the government should take action to avoid another lockdown if cases rise to challenging levels again.

“The last thing we need is to go backwards,” she said. “The government needs to be making testing more available, they need to be making sure that people have the access to masks and PPE. They need to be signalling to folks that we’re not finished with COVID yet.”

Free tests were originally offered through grocery stores and pharmacies for eight weeks beginning on Feb. 9.

According to Hilkene, the province will also continue to provide free rapid antigen tests for asymptomatic screening in the “highest risk sectors.”

— with files from Global News’ Hannah Jackson and The Canadian Press