Local pharmacies across Southwestern Ontario are starting to offer free COVID-19 testing for people who aren't showing any symptoms associated with the virus.
For now, there is one in Chatham, three in Windsor, and three in London.
Starting on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, Shoppers Drug Mart at St. Clair Street at McNaughton Avenue West in Chatham will be booking appointments for COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic individuals only.
In Windsor, the Shoppers Drug Marts at Howard Avenue and Tecumseh Road East, the location at Tecumseh Mall, and on Huron Church Road at Prince Road are offering testing for those without symptoms.
In London, COVID-19 tests are available at the Shoppers Drug Marts located on Southdale Road East at Jalna Boulevard, on Colonel Talbot Road at Southdale Road West, and on Fanshawe Park Road West at Wonderland Road.
A directory voicemail states the pharmacies offer asymptomatic COVID-19 testing only to individuals who meet criteria established by the province. People eligible for pharmacy testing are residents, workers or visitors of long-term care homes; residents or workers in homeless shelters; international students who have passed their 14-day quarantine periods; farmworkers; people who require testing to be cleared for travel but have not been in contact with a probable or confirmed COVID-19 case in the last 14 days; and people who have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 30 days.
The province is asking people to contact Shoppers Drug Mart directly to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test. Anyone who is considering attending with children should also call ahead to check if the pharmacies test newborns and young kids.
The Ontario government is asking members of the public to check if they should be tested for COVID-19 before they go to the pharmacies and anyone who is attending one of the pharmacies for a COVID-19 test should bring their Ontario health card.
Select pharmacies in the Toronto and Ottawa areas started offering the free COVID-19 tests on Friday.
The increase in testing availability comes amid complaints from residents across the province about long lineups at COVID-19 assessment centres with some attendees reporting that they have had to wait for several hours before receiving a test.
Chatham-Kent residents showing symptoms of the virus or those who are sent for testing by CK Public Health because of exposure can still attend the CKHA COVID-19 Assessment Centre at 47 Emma St. in Chatham.