It says pharmacies will be able to accept symptomatic patients by appointment only and they will be required to wear a mask for the entire time they are within the pharmacy and staff completing specimen collection will be wearing gowns, gloves, surgical masks and eye protection, with a requirement to don protective items and dispose of them after each interaction with a symptomatic person.Įach participating Shoppers pharmacy will be sent one high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to run in the enclosed area where symptomatic specimen collection will take place. The document from Loblaws, which owns Shoppers Drug Mart, was authored by a senior director in the company’s health and wellness department. They also expressed concern about proper ventilation and air filtration throughout each pharmacy where symptomatic testing will take place.
Staff at pharmacies have been told that up to 138 Shoppers locations already approved to conduct asymptomatic COVID-19 testing could begin offering first appointments for symptomatic individuals as early as Wednesday.Ī pharmacist who was not authorized to speak to the media told CP24 they were concerned that bringing symptomatic individuals into a pharmacy setting, which frequently welcomes the elderly and immunocompromised to pick up prescriptions and children too young to wear face masks, presented an unacceptable risk. “With this in mind, we are working through the support and infrastructure required to enable the safe delivery of symptomatic testing in stores, including access to PPE, space requirements, and the (standard operating procedures) required to deliver this service safely and effectively.” “We know there is some anxiousness about this news and want to assure you that the safety of Pharmacy Teams, Patients and customers remains of utmost importance,” a memo sent to Shoppers pharmacists states. It will involve on-site PCR COVID-19 swab tests as well as a drop-off program for specimens collected at home, similar to the system being implemented at public schools across the province.Īn internal document sent to Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy employees and obtained by CP24 this week says they will be able to accept symptomatic high-risk close contacts of those already diagnosed with COVID-19 and those with symptoms, by appointment only.
Ontario’s Ministry of Health is allowing pharmacies to conduct COVID-19 tests on symptomatic patients for the first time and tests could get underway as soon as this week.Ī senior government official told CP24 the program is voluntary and open to any willing pharmacy in the province.
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