Free rapid antigen tests to be distributed in Windsor this week
People are seen lining up at Tecumseh Mall to acquire a rapid test on Dec. 20, 2021. (Angelo Aversa/CTV)
Free COVID-19 rapid tests will again be made available to Windsor-Essex residents as part of the province’s ‘holiday testing blitz’ starting Wednesday.
The University of Windsor has been selected as a pop-up site for residents to pick-up free rapid tests while supplies last on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Take-home rapid tests will be made available:
- Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m., University of Windsor (Education parking lot at University Avenue and California Avenue)
- Thursday, Jan. 13 at 10 a.m., University of Windsor (Education parking lot)
- Friday, Jan. 14, at 10a.m., University of Windsor (Education parking lot)
The province launched the testing blitz to offer voluntary rapid antigen screening to help mitigate the risk of transmission over the holiday season.
This round of rapid testing pop-up sites comes after the province changed its guidelines for COVID-19 testing, limiting PCR testing to high-risk individuals who are symptomatic or at risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Rapid antigen tests have been in high-demand with previous pop-up sites quickly running out of supply and many lining up in the cold to secure a kit.
Throughout December to mid-January, the province plans to provide up to two million rapid tests free of charge at sites in high-traffic areas such as malls, retail settings, public libraries and transit hubs.
