Ontario won’t be leaving its COVID-19 passport system or mask mandates behind any time soon.
That’s according to Health Minister Christine Elliott who said on Wednesday that the province has “no plans currently” to drop the measures.
Elliott says while officials have started easing some restrictions, it remains committed to a “very cautious, phased approach” to reopening and is not planning to move up its already announced timeline.
She did say that Directive Two, restricting non-emergent medical procedures, will be lifted in the next few days.
Meanwhile, free rapid tests will be available at grocery stores and pharmacies in Ontario beginning on Wednesday.
The tests are available at five locations locally.
In Haliburton:
- Todd’s Your Independent Grocer, 5121 Country Road 21
- Rexall, 224 Highland Street
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 186 Highland Street
Minden:
- Highland Remedy Rx, 33 Bobcaygeon Road
- Minden Pharmacy, 110 Bobcaygeon Road
The province has announced they will be limited to one box with five tests inside per family. However, participating stores are not required to track any information about who has picked them up.
There are just over 24-hundred sites carrying the tests, but 21 communities have been given high priority.