Ontario Expanding Access to Free Rapid Tests for General Public

To further support the province’s cautious easing of public health measures, the government is expanding access to free rapid testing kits to the general public for at-home use

(See below for locations within Simcoe North)

5.5 million rapid tests will be distributed each week for eight weeks through pharmacy and grocery locations across the province, as well as community partners in vulnerable communities.

Starting February 9, over 2,300 participating grocery and pharmacy locations will provide free rapid tests while supplies last, with a limit of one box of five tests per household per visit. Participating retailers have the ability to determine how tests are distributed in order to best serve the community, including through appointment bookings, at checkout or through online orders. A list of participating retailers as well as information on how retail locations are distributing rapid test kits can be found at Ontario.ca/rapidtest.

To support access to tests for communities that have been impacted disproportionately by COVID-19 and face barriers to testing, lead agencies working as part of the High Priority Communities Strategy will be distributing rapid tests through existing local partnerships, such as community centres, community health centres, places of worship, and food banks.

Ontario continues to lead the country in the distribution of rapid antigen tests, having deployed over 75 million tests to date to provide an additional layer of protection for hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes, and workplaces. In addition, approximately 26 million tests have been deployed to support school and licensed child care settings.

To date, Ontario has directly procured a total of approximately 157 million rapid tests, including 126 million between December 2021 and January 2022 alone. In addition to procuring additional rapid tests where possible, Ontario continues to also work closely with the federal government to address delays in shipments. Of the 54.3 million rapid tests the federal government committed to provide Ontario in January, about 36 million have been delivered.

Web Resources:

Rapid Testing for At-Home Use

COVID-19 Test and Testing Location Information

COVID-19 Public Health Measures and Advice

Booster Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines

Provincial Booking System

Pharmacy Finder:

READ MORE:

News Release:

English: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001575/ontario-expanding-access-to-free-rapid-tests-for-general-public

French: https://news.ontario.ca/fr/release/1001575/lontario-elargit-lacces-aux-tests-rapides-gratuits-pour-le-grand-public

Below is the list of Simcoe North-specific locations that will be distributing Rapid Antigen Tests.

Store AddressStore Address 2CityPostal Code 
Metro70 Front St. N.OrilliaL3V 4R8 
Food Basics9226 Highway #93MidlandL4R 4L3 
Food Basics975 West Ridge Blvd.OrilliaL3V 8A3 
SDM Midland Hwy 93RR 2 9186 Hwy 93MidlandL4R 4K4 
SDM Orillia Front N55 Front St NOrilliaL3V 4R7 
SDM Orillia Westmount N149 Westmount Dr NOrilliaL3V 6C7 
SDM Penetanguishene Main122 Main StPenetanguisheneL9M 1T6 
Zehrs Orillia Coldwater289 Coldwater Rd WOrilliaL3V 3M1 
SS Midland9292 County RdMidlandL4R 4K4 
Walmart16845 HWY. #12MIDLANDL4R 0A9 
Walmart175 MURPHY ROADORILLIAL3V 0B5 
MEMORIAL PHARMASAVE1-200 MEMORIAL AVEORILLIAL3V5X6 
FITTONS PHARMACY20 20B-425 WEST ST NORILLIAL3V7R2 
COSTO PHARMACY # 1265625 UNIVERSITY AVEORILLIAL3V0Y7 
REXALL PHARMA PLUS #229558 MISSISSAUGA ST EORILLIAL3V1V5 
MCK-Brechin Pharmacy2280 HWY 12BRECHINL0K1B0 
MIDLAND CLINIC IDA PHARMACY952 JONES STMIDLANDL4R0G1 
Huronia Medical Pharmacy619 PROSPECT BLVDMIDLANDL4R0G3 
Coldwater Guardian Pharmacy45 RIVER ST N BOX 53