Ontario to reveal details of its enhanced COVID-19 testing strategy today

The Ontario government will be making an announcement Thursday afternoon (Nov. 18) as it relates to the province’s enhanced COVID-19 testing strategy.

Minister of Health Christine Elliott will be joined by Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore at a press conference in Toronto at 2 p.m.

Last month, Lecce announced that the province would expand COVID-19 testing capabilities at all of Ontario’s schools by making available take-home test kits for staff and students experiencing symptoms of the virus by mid-November.

On Wednesday (Nov. 17), Elliott defended a recently announced plan to allow people with COVID-19 symptoms to get tested for the virus in pharmacies.

“(Chief Medical Officer of Health) Dr. Kieran Moore, and the people of Public Health Ontario, they’re epidemiologists. They know what’s safe, and they have indicated that this is going to be safe,” she said. “There are going to be strict measures.”

She also said there will be a list of participating pharmacies online and signage posted outside stores so people know that people with COVID-19 symptoms may be present before entering the facility.

— with a file from The Canadian Press