RedFlagDeals.com Free Covid-19 Tests at Select Ontario Locations Free Covid-19 Tests at Select Ontario Locations

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As part of an enhanced testing strategy, the province of Ontario is launching a blitz of free take-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Most sites will have free take-home tests, and some will offer free testing on-site.

The ontario.ca webpage stresses that these pop-up locations are meant for people without symptoms of COVID-19 and people who have not had recent exposure to someone with COVID-19. These pop-up locations are not meant for those currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. These tests are meant for asymptomatic people to use an additional screening tool. Please do not visit these pop-centres if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to a person with COVID-19.

A full list of pop-up locations is here. It includes Scarborough Town Centre (Friday, December 19), Yorkdale Mall (Saturday, December 18), Upper Canada Mall (Sunday, December 19) and more.

If you're not able to make it to one of these locations, you can purchase tests online. The current best price we were able to find is $49.95 for a five-pack at Canadian Shield. If you're symptomatic or have experienced an exposure, you can find a free testing location in Ontario here.

Residents of other provinces can book free tests online at these sites:

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  • gr8dlr
    • https://www.ontario.ca/page/pop-up-holi ... #section-2

      Page seems to work. I have not ventured out for any testing kits lines-cannot manage the long waits now.
      Last night, the news stations indicated school kids (ON elementary and secondary) can get kits at schools plus symptomatic education staff at schools can also get them (just not everyone).

      GOVaxx bus visits require registration before event day (one day ahead on Ontario testing portal).

      If your workplace is eligible for free testing kits through local bia/pharmacy, remember that some pharmacies in ON reported their kit stock has Jan/Feb 2022 expiry dates. Just have the discussions at work this week and see if kits shake loose/mgmt moves on the issue.
      Lines at Markville Mall were crazy crazy crazy if you read the "comments" section.

      https://www.todocanada.ca/where-to-get- ... n-ontario/

      Just got home from Markville mall, where the line went around the top of the mall then dow stairs and back out of the door to people lining up in the car park,

      I had a friend who went to Fairview Mall this morning just to check out the line and ppl near the front said they were there at 4AM [for a 9AM start time]. They should give a "number" so ppl know if they're going to get a kit or not but the problem is one person in line might actually be 5 ppl in line.

      Cutting and line etiquette:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ap3JWsZSeo
    • Report Post
  • Ciel
    • https://www.ontario.ca/page/pop-up-holi ... #section-2

      Page seems to work. I have not ventured out for any testing kits lines-cannot manage the long waits now.
      Last night, the news stations indicated school kids (ON elementary and secondary) can get kits at schools plus symptomatic education staff at schools can also get them (just not everyone).

      GOVaxx bus visits require registration before event day (one day ahead on Ontario testing portal).

      If your workplace is eligible for free testing kits through local bia/pharmacy, remember that some pharmacies in ON reported their kit stock has Jan/Feb 2022 expiry dates. Just have the discussions at work this week and see if kits shake loose/mgmt moves on the issue.
    • Report Post
  • arsenic
    • Is it just me or the Ontario government link page doesn't work?
    • Report Post
  • LadyStang28
    • Thx for letting know. Working till 3pm tomorrow. I am guessing they'll be all gone by 11am.
      Saturday January 8, 2022 10:00 a.m.
      St. Jacob's Market
      878 Weber Street North, Waterloo Pick up Rapid Antigen Screening

      Monday January 10, 2022, Tuesday January 11, 2022, Wednesday January 12, 2022 10:00 a.m.
      University of Guelph (University Centre)
      50 Stone Road East, Guelph Pick up Rapid Antigen Screening
    • Report Post
  • smoraes
    • if like the lcbo/union station downtown ones at 9am and people lining up at 4am or earlier :)
    • Report Post
  • gr8dlr
    • Thx for letting know. Working till 3pm tomorrow. I am guessing they'll be all gone by 11am.
      Ppl from west end will be for sure driving out there to get some as it's not a long drive.

      They'll be done in 15 min tops IMO.
    • Report Post
  • Thatdeal
    • Might be too late but anyone know where you can still get it in kitchener-waterloo. I have elderly parents and unvaccinated toddlers at home. Just for just in case. Thx in advance.
      Might be too late but anyone know where you can still get it in kitchener-waterloo. I have elderly parents and unvaccinated toddlers at home. Just for just in case. Thx in advance.
      Friday January 7, 2022 10:00 a.m. Wilfrid Laurier University – Waterloo Campus
      (Lazaridis School of Business & Economics) 64 University Ave W., Waterloo Pick up Rapid Antigen Screening
      Thx for letting know. Working till 3pm tomorrow. I am guessing they'll be all gone by 11am.
    • Report Post
  • repatch
    • Auston Matthews was postive with rapid test and negative with PCR IIRC.
      Yup, hence the 95-98% accuracy figure.

      To be clear, that means for every 100 positives, around 5 will be false positives.

      That's why it's important to follow up with either a second rapid test (a day later is what I hear is commonly recommended), or get a PCR test (impossible for many of us right now).

      When dealing with statistical things like this, there are no absolutes.
    • Report Post
  • gr8dlr
    • They are very reliable and accurate for positive indications (have seen numbers of around 95-98%).

      They are not very reliable and accurate for negative indications, due to variations in the person's ability to self obtain a sample, and due to the test being only sensitive to a minimum amount of virus.
      Auston Matthews was postive with rapid test and negative with PCR IIRC.
    • Report Post
  • smoraes
    • Might be too late but anyone know where you can still get it in kitchener-waterloo. I have elderly parents and unvaccinated toddlers at home. Just for just in case. Thx in advance.
      Friday January 7, 2022 10:00 a.m. Wilfrid Laurier University – Waterloo Campus
      (Lazaridis School of Business & Economics) 64 University Ave W., Waterloo Pick up Rapid Antigen Screening
    • Report Post
  • Thatdeal
    • Might be too late but anyone know where you can still get it in kitchener-waterloo. I have elderly parents and unvaccinated toddlers at home. Just for just in case. Thx in advance.
    • Report Post
  • sn00ch
    • Yep, basically if you have it, you have it. If you don't have it, you might still have it.
    • Report Post
  • repatch
    • I am just curious, has anyone actually tested positive with one of these kits? do they actually work?
      They are very reliable and accurate for positive indications (have seen numbers of around 95-98%).

      They are not very reliable and accurate for negative indications, due to variations in the person's ability to self obtain a sample, and due to the test being only sensitive to a minimum amount of virus.
    • Report Post
  • ManCaveGamer
    • I am just curious, has anyone actually tested positive with one of these kits? do they actually work?
    • Report Post
  • CDNPatriot
    • Not morrally objective and given that we will most likely need to develop new vaccines for the latest variant we need to incentivize the private sector to come up with vaccines.
      Yes but the COVID-19 vaccines are not really comparable to food delivery services. The vaccine supply is constrained, and we are competing with other jurisdictions that are looking to purchase shots. If there were an unlimited supply of vaccines right now, the economics would be a bit different. But more importantly, the vaccines are already being purchased by the government rather than us as individuals so I don’t see how the government can get a better price from these companies by passing new laws… we have the same leverage with or without any particular law, since these are not Canadian companies that we can force to do what we want.

      I don’t understand what vaccines have to do with resellers.

      I have no objection to these companies making a profit off of their incredible innovation in this critical space, especially when price really has nothing to do with access in developed countries (again, developing countries is a different story…). Nobody in Canada does not have access to vaccines because of cost. If anything, if we had paid a higher premium on the vaccines we might’ve been able to have superior access throughout the pandemic.

      Of all the different industries in this country in terms of competitiveness and all of the different ways in which consumers are hurt, PFE, BNTX, and MRNA making $20 or $30 profit each time someone takes a life saving vaccine that is allowing us to reopen our economy and basically save civilization just isn’t morally objectionable to me…
    • Report Post
  • 32berries
    • Our governments have put in rules to stop excessive profits on non Cdn companies already. Eg food delivery fees.

      My point is companies are making far far more profits (below is link to google profits made on vaccines and boosters) and yet they don't try and put rules on how much they can make, but they want to find resellers?

      https://www.google.com/search?q=pfizer+ ... s-wiz-serp
      Yes but the COVID-19 vaccines are not really comparable to food delivery services. The vaccine supply is constrained, and we are competing with other jurisdictions that are looking to purchase shots. If there were an unlimited supply of vaccines right now, the economics would be a bit different. But more importantly, the vaccines are already being purchased by the government rather than us as individuals so I don’t see how the government can get a better price from these companies by passing new laws… we have the same leverage with or without any particular law, since these are not Canadian companies that we can force to do what we want.

      I don’t understand what vaccines have to do with resellers.

      I have no objection to these companies making a profit off of their incredible innovation in this critical space, especially when price really has nothing to do with access in developed countries (again, developing countries is a different story…). Nobody in Canada does not have access to vaccines because of cost. If anything, if we had paid a higher premium on the vaccines we might’ve been able to have superior access throughout the pandemic.

      Of all the different industries in this country in terms of competitiveness and all of the different ways in which consumers are hurt, PFE, BNTX, and MRNA making $20 or $30 profit each time someone takes a life saving vaccine that is allowing us to reopen our economy and basically save civilization just isn’t morally objectionable to me…
    • Report Post
  • gr8dlr
    • At the risk of sounding like a rapacious capitalist (which I am not): these are not Canadian headquartered companies and we can’t force them to sell us vaccines at non-market prices (they will just not sell them to us if we do not pay market rates, and even if you ignore intellectual property rights, we are not really capable of readily producing these ourselves at present). The cost of the vaccines has been negligible (I think like $30-40 per shot) compared to the extraordinary cost of various social programs (CERB, CEWS, etc.) enacted throughout the pandemic. It’s not unreasonable to me to push to ensure these companies make their vaccines available in the developing world where they otherwise cannot be afforded, but I’m not concerned with the fact that PFE, BNTX, and MRNA are making large profits at the cost of a small sliver of my tax dollars as compensation for their incredible work in bringing these vaccines to market in record time.
      Our governments have put in rules to stop excessive profits on non Cdn companies already. Eg food delivery fees.

      My point is companies are making far far more profits (below is link to google profits made on vaccines and boosters) and yet they don't try and put rules on how much they can make, but they want to find resellers?

      https://www.google.com/search?q=pfizer+ ... s-wiz-serp
    • Report Post
  • 32berries
    • Not sure how much we're paying for each shot but maybe they should put a law on Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeca or any company for that matter who is making "excessive" profits [whatever that is].
      At the risk of sounding like a rapacious capitalist (which I am not): these are not Canadian headquartered companies and we can’t force them to sell us vaccines at non-market prices (they will just not sell them to us if we do not pay market rates, and even if you ignore intellectual property rights, we are not really capable of readily producing these ourselves at present). The cost of the vaccines has been negligible (I think like $30-40 per shot) compared to the extraordinary cost of various social programs (CERB, CEWS, etc.) enacted throughout the pandemic. It’s not unreasonable to me to push to ensure these companies make their vaccines available in the developing world where they otherwise cannot be afforded, but I’m not concerned with the fact that PFE, BNTX, and MRNA are making large profits at the cost of a small sliver of my tax dollars as compensation for their incredible work in bringing these vaccines to market in record time.
    • Report Post
  • gr8dlr
    • If you HONESTLY think the government is going to pursue any of these sales, well, I have a bridge to sell you...

      The statement had the effect of scaring most of the scalpers, and getting a positive media byte for the government. That's all it was every meant to do.
      Exactly. Good luck trying to prosecute and enforce a fine. What is an "excessive price" BTW?

      Not sure how much we're paying for each shot but maybe they should put a law on Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeca or any company for that matter who is making "excessive" profits [whatever that is].
    • Report Post
  • CuddlyMonster
  • repatch
    • Those individuals have to think how long their cached ad results might linger online-true, the links won't lead to old ads but enough info surfaces on the Google results to show some of the ads' contents. Hope they thought not to have text/phone contacts listed at beginning of ads!
      Glad that Ontario gov't woke up to the situation with kits being resold. There are people who need those kits but missed out or were not in the geographic areas where kits were handed out.
      If you HONESTLY think the government is going to pursue any of these sales, well, I have a bridge to sell you...

      The statement had the effect of scaring most of the scalpers, and getting a positive media byte for the government. That's all it was every meant to do.
    • Report Post
  • DougO
    • Nothing for Thunder Bay, nor Northwestern Ontario in General. Guess we're NOT all in this together (again)...
    • Report Post
  • Ciel
    • I've seen old Kijiji ads in Google cache one or two months after the ad was live and then deleted. Guess it depends on what results Google is updating most frequently before cleaning up lower priority results.
    • Report Post
  • iris11
    • Those individuals have to think how long their cached ad results might linger online-true, the links won't lead to old ads but enough info surfaces on the Google results to show some of the ads' contents. Hope they thought not to have text/phone contacts listed at beginning of ads!
      Glad that Ontario gov't woke up to the situation with kits being resold. There are people who need those kits but missed out or were not in the geographic areas where kits were handed out.
      Google caches pages from 1 day to a week i guess. If i find any, i am reporting and encourage anyone else to do it as well (how to.. have to figure this part yet).

      At least govt is awakening to act on this (of the 100's of things.. where they should been to build a better society and promising environment for future)
    • Report Post
  • Ciel
    • hahahaha idiots took off their listing on kijiji after this news
      https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/12/21/ ... test-kits/
      Those individuals have to think how long their cached ad results might linger online-true, the links won't lead to old ads but enough info surfaces on the Google results to show some of the ads' contents. Hope they thought not to have text/phone contacts listed at beginning of ads!
      Glad that Ontario gov't woke up to the situation with kits being resold. There are people who need those kits but missed out or were not in the geographic areas where kits were handed out.
    • Report Post
  • repatch
    • People are desperate to spend time with loved ones during the holidays and the test kits might give them a little more assurance if everyone has negative tests before gathering. Whether or not this strategy works is debatable because false negatives are pretty common (i.e. taking the test incorrectly or taking it too early before the virus is detectable).

      Also, hoarding. Plenty of dicks willing to take advantage of people for a few bucks.
      Exactly, however, this is an area that if people do end up taking these tests for this reason, Omicron actually helps since it tends to have a much shorter incubation period (1.5-3 days vs the 5-8 days of Delta).

      I still don't recommend people use these tests for that purpose, but there's a little hope there that if they do, it might work better than it would have with Delta.
    • Report Post
  • sn00ch
    • Why does everyone want these?

      Unless you think you have it, why are people flocking to get these tests - is it just hoarding?
      People are desperate to spend time with loved ones during the holidays and the test kits might give them a little more assurance if everyone has negative tests before gathering. Whether or not this strategy works is debatable because false negatives are pretty common (i.e. taking the test incorrectly or taking it too early before the virus is detectable).

      Also, hoarding. Plenty of dicks willing to take advantage of people for a few bucks.
    • Report Post
  • repatch
    • Why does everyone want these?

      Unless you think you have it, why are people flocking to get these tests - is it just hoarding?
      People think that if you take a test, and it shows negative, you don't have COVID and you can visit family.

      Unfortunately that belief is very wrong, and shows a complete misunderstanding of what these tests are for.

      These tests are VERY reliable tests for a POSITIVE case, i.e. if it shows positive you're almost certainly (97-87%) sure you have COVID.

      A negative result OTOH is kinda worthless. Since these tests don't amplify the virus material, they are unable to detect early infection. In addition because these are self administered it's very likely the person doesn't do it right, resulting in a false negative.

      This is a 'won't someone PLEASE think of the children' sort of situation. The people keep demanding the government do SOMETHING, so the government throws these kits out the window claiming they've done SOMETHING.

      And, of course, there's the element of 'free, free, free' mentality, where people want something BECAUSE it's free, not because they have an actual use for them.

      And then, lowest scum, there are the scalpers who collect a whole bunch of these things and then sell them for crazy inflated prices.

      A massive clusterf**k, paid for with your tax dollars.
    • Report Post
  • Checkered
    • Why does everyone want these?

      Unless you think you have it, why are people flocking to get these tests - is it just hoarding?
    • Report Post
  • shyhermit
    • For Ontario, the list of pop-up sites for the free test kit is supposed to be updated today (Friday). So far, no new sites have been posted. Some news stations are reporting that there is no new supply for now to continue the pop-up giveaway as new kits are being reserved for use by healthcare workers and essential personnel for ongoing antigen testing. Uncertain if these are just rumors. :(
    • Report Post
  • sprung
  • toronto_slim
  • shyhermit
    • My coworker told me that the crowd situation at Union Station on Tuesday was completely out of control. The entire concourse was packed. Even the security guards could not point to incoming people where the line ends. Eventually, they just started telling people who were not yet in line to go home even before the pop-up kiosk opened at 7AM.
    • Report Post
  • Tilter
    • got mine at Yorkdale today. arrived 10 min before 9 which was very lucky cuz we were almost one of the last ones before they cut off the line. after 35 min or so I got it.

      took a test today, I'm negative and not showing any symptoms but my family still does not believe the antigen tests work after I went dancing and kissing girls at Rebel nightclub this past friday, and not allowed to see them for 1 week... is there any free PCR test for those not showing symptoms so I can prove to them and hang out for christmas?
      Where does the line form at? thank you
    • Report Post
  • Cheapo-Findo
  • gr8dlr
    • Hillcrest Mall at 8:43am.
      There's a SDM in that mall. Perhaps that line is for vaccines?
    • Report Post
  • roblombardi
    • my family still does not believe the antigen tests work after I went dancing and kissing girls at Rebel nightclub this past friday, and not allowed to see them for 1 week.
      Did you come here to show off? LOL
    • Report Post
  • Cheapo-Findo
    • and here we go on kijiji
      Idiots are trying to profit, damn scalpers!
    • Report Post
  • bargain shopper
    • Hillcrest Mall at 8:43am.
    • Report Post
  • sprung

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