1 location in Kingston to offer free rapid COVID-19 tests Saturday
Global News
Free rapid COVID-19 tests will be available at the Rideau Heights Community Centre in Kingston Saturday between 12:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, the province announced 50 locations across the province where free rapid COVID-19 antigen tests could be picked up. Despite the high rate of Omicron in the Kingston region, only one location is listed for the KFL&A region.
On Saturday, between 12:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., free rapid tests will be available for pickup at the Rideau Heights Community Centre.
The tests are some of two million being sent across the province to help deal with demand as Omicron spreads in Ontario.
But as COVID-19 cases continue to skyrocket in the Kingston region, many are scrambling to find tests, especially ahead of the holidays.
Over the last week alone, more than 12,600 people have been tested at KFL&A assessment centres.
Locally, for those needing tests, KFL&A Public Health continues to conduct testing daily at the Beechgrove assessment centre, alongside a mobile pop-up clinic running Thursday between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at 111 Van Order Dr.
Aside from these options, the health unit has offered take-home PCR tests to various family health-care teams for their patients.
Rapid tests were also made available to local businesses through distribution partners like the Kingston Chamber of Commerce and Ontarians have been able to purchase a rapid test at select pharmacies, such as Shoppers Drug Mart.