Northern Ontario's New Democrats are urging the Progressive Conservative government to expand plans to distribute free rapid antigen tests to small northern communities.
A letter signed by the MPPs - including Algoma-Manitoulin's Michael Mantha - warns the plan to distribute the COVID-19 tests through pharmacy and grocery stores leaves out many rural communities - some of which are hours away from such stores - and urges the government ensure the test kits are also available at nursing stations, general stores with an LCBO site, and Northern community health centres, to improve access for rural residents, emphasizing cases "continue to pop up across the province regardless of the size of the community", so it's "imperative" rapid tests be distributed "in an equitable manner".
Nearly 2400 distribution locations have been announced, mainly in southern Ontario, though there are seventeen in Sault Ste. Marie, twenty in Sudbury, and seven in Timmins, but nothing more local than that.