Local MPP says rollout plan doesn't meet Niagara's needs.
St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens is urging the province to make some changes to the rapid antigen test rollout in Niagara and Ontario.
In a letter to Health Minister Christine Elliott, Stevens says the plan doesn't meet the needs of the community.
"As you know, Niagara has the third highest concentration of seniors in the entire country. If there is a place that needs a plan for broad access to COVID-19 testing as we face the highly contagious Omicron variant, it is Niagara."
Yesterday, rapid antigen tests were made available two at LCBO's in St. Catharines.
The LCBO has confirmed on its Twitter page that both the Fairview Mall and Glendale and Merrit locations are out of tests, but in a statement to us, the organization says more tests are expected in several stores throughout the province later today.
Stevens is also encouraging the Ford government to include Niagara in the Provincial Rapid Antigen Holiday Pop up, which includes 13 locations across the province.
Stevens notes that it's especially important now to ensure as many people as possible can get a free rapid antigen test, due to the upcoming holidays and the threat posed by the Omicron variant.
"Given the spread of variants, the upcoming Christmas holidays, and the slow roll out of boosters from the Province, it is clear that the provincial plan for rapid antigen tests is creating additional confusion and chaos across Ontario and Niagara. I am calling on you and Premier Ford to act now to ensure that families in Niagara get easy access to free COVID-19 tests right away."
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