THUNDER BAY – Rapid COVID-19 tests are on their way to a Thunder Bay LCBO as part of a provincial strategy to expand testing heading into the holidays, but it's uncertain how long supplies will last.
Tests are expected to arrive at the Arthur Street LCBO sometime over the weekend, while stores elsewhere in the province began offering the tests as early as Thursday, the company reported.
The test kits will be available at checkout on a first-come, first-serve basis. The kits are limited to one per person, with each kit containing five tests.
There is no requirement to purchase a product from the LCBO to access a test kit.
It's not certain how many kits will be distributed to the local LCBO, and a representative said Friday the store had been deluged with call from the public.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or who has recently been in contact with someone with COVID-19 should not seek a rapid test, but instead contact public health.
The initiative is part of a wider provincial campaign to expand COVID-19 testing, which also includes sending rapid test kits home with elementary and secondary school students and distributing them in locations like malls and libraries in some communities.
A representative for the Thunder Bay Public Library said there was no indication it would be included in those plans. A provincial website showed only the Arthur Street LCBO as a local site for distribution of tests as of Friday.
The government has previously provided free rapid tests to many businesses, but had not until now made them available free to the public.
