Coronavirus testing in pharmacies
NDP leader Andrea Horwath is calling on Premier Doug Ford to hold off on a move to allow people with COVID-19 symptoms to go to a pharmacy to be tested.
Horwath says the rules need to be clarified so that pharmacy customers can be assured they won’t be exposed to the virus.
But the premier says he’s confident proper protections will be in place.
About 150 locations are expected, initially, to be involved in the program.
Decisions restrictions left with health units
Premier Ford says his government will continue to let local health units take the lead on the decision to re-impose COVID-19 restrictions.
Two regions, Sudbury-Manitoulin and Algoma, have done so in the past week, and a third is considering a return to limits on gatherings.
Ford says the risks of the virus spreading more widely in the province are much lower now, as more people get vaccinated.
The premier adds the policy is backed by the province’s chief medical officer of health and the health officers in Ontario’s 34 health units.
Tests at the border
Federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos is promising a decision in the next few days, about border testing requirements for COVID-19.
Currently, anyone fully vaccinated who is arriving in Canada must have a negative COVID-19 test result in hand done within 72 hours of their crossing.
The tests are expensive, ranging as high as 300 dollars.
Premier Doug Ford says the premiers have told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the requirement is unnecessary.
It’s part of a federal order that is to expire on Sunday.
