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To help stem the tide of the third wave and prevent workplace outbreaks, our government has launched a new rapid testing portal making it easier for all essential businesses to participate in its free Provincial Antigen Screening Program—with rapid testing kits being shipped directly to businesses to help screen for asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 and keep essential workers safe.
Through the Provincial Antigen Screening Program, Ontario has already delivered more than nine million rapid testing kits to nearly 1,600 workplaces. Test shipments to essential businesses have more than tripled since the beginning of April.
Businesses are encouraged to participate in the program by registering at ontario.ca/testingonsite. It provides free rapid antigen screening kits to help screen for asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 that might otherwise be missed.
It is one more way that businesses can help workers and their families stay safe and keep the virus out of workplaces. Program eligibility was recently expanded to include any business that is allowed to be open and requires staff to work on-site.
The recent launch of a rapid testing initiative announced by Minister Sarkaria, and run jointly by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, has already proved to be successful. In just two weeks, Ontario has received orders for more than 850,000 rapid tests and is quickly delivering them to small and medium-sized businesses in more than 40 communities across the province.
As the results of positive PCR tests are already reported to local public health units (PHUs) through the provincial lab network, the Ministry of Health is updating program requirements so organizations providing rapid antigen screening will no longer have to report preliminary positive results to PHUs, nor will they be required to report results of confirmatory lab-based PCR tests to the province.
These changes will help encourage greater use of rapid testing by reducing the administrative burden and implementation barriers for all organizations and workplaces, while still maintaining strong public health and safety measures.
Rapid testing is one more way we’re supporting businesses as they help workers and their families stay safe and keep the virus out of workplaces.
Businesses of any size can find out how to access rapid antigen tests through the Provincial Antigen Screening Program by visiting ontario.ca/testingonsite.
Please like and share Minister Sarkaria’s post below on your channels:
https://mobile.twitter.com/PrabSarkaria/status/1392476948476174337
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