Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Monday that discussions about offering COVID-19 testing have begun between the government and retail pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart.
“We’ve been discussing this for a little while now and we’ve reached out to Shoppers Drug Mart, the CEO of Loblaws that owns Shoppers as well, and they’re being very cooperative so I might as well come out and say it,” said Ford at a press conference.
He went on to commend Galen Weston, Executive Chairman of Loblaw Companies International, who owns Shoppers Drug Mart. “He offered to help any way he can, and we appreciate it. That’s the Ontario spirit, stepping up to the plate… I just want to give Galen a shout-out there,” Ford said.
The Ontario discussions are on the heels of Alberta’s decision to offer testing at Loblaw Canada pharmacies including Shoppers Drug Mart, Real Canadian Superstore, and Wholesale Club, that was announced earlier this month.
The proposed drug store testing station will be for those who are not showing symptoms of the virus. People who display COVID-19 symptoms will need to be testing through public health.
Ontario residents can get tested for the cornonavirus at one of 146 COVID-19 assessment locations across the province.
A date for when testing will become available at Shoppers Drug Mart has not yet been announced.
Learn More:
Ontario COVID-19 assessment locations
COVID-19 info at Shoppers Drug Mart website
Shoppers Drug Mart locations in Grimsby
