Point-of-care tests will help keep workers safe in small and medium sized businesses
WATERLOO – The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, is launching the StaySafe™ COVID-19 Rapid Screening Pilot in the Waterloo Region. The StaySafe™ program will provide free rapid antigen point-of-care tests for employees of small- and medium-sized businesses, with a target of 3,000 rapid tests conducted each week in the region. The program will help detect cases of COVID-19 in the workplace that might otherwise be missed, helping to keep workers and their families safe.
“By expanding rapid testing to small- and medium-sized businesses and making it easier to administer, we will be able to keep people working and safe,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “These measures are essential to further protect Ontario’s workforce as we work together towards a swift recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, a stronger and more resilient province.”
This approach will allow people to self-swab using a COVID-19 rapid antigen point-of-care screening test under the supervision of a trained person. This method of testing will help reduce administrative costs and be faster and more efficient.
“The StaySafe™ program will make rapid screening free and accessible for more employees of small- and medium-sized businesses, and help keep them and their families safe,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. “By supporting this pilot, we are providing Ontario’s hardworking businesses with more tools to prevent outbreaks and ensuring their employees can stay on the job with the best protection possible.”
The StaySafe™ COVID-19 Rapid Screening Pilot is complementary to those participating in the Provincial Antigen Screening Program. Through this program rapid testing is provided to workplaces for asymptomatic staff in key sectors such as manufacturing, warehousing, supply chain, mining, construction and food processing.
Approximately 5.7 million rapid antigen tests have been sent to over 1,150 workplaces, including 100 essential industry sites, under the Provincial Antigen Screening Program. To further encourage the use of these tests, additional outreach will occur to employers in regions with highest rates of transmission to increase access to testing, and the process for enrollment in the screening program will be streamlined to allow for quick access to these supports.
Organizations participating in the Provincial Antigen Screening Program can now search for a service provider offering point-of-care rapid testing services through a new directory on the Ontario Together website. Service providers offering point-of-care COVID-19 testing services can also apply to be listed.
“Our government is committed to providing greater flexibility and innovative testing options to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Rapid testing in the workplace will add an additional layer of protection for workers and their families. We continue to work closely with our health care and industry partners to expand the use of rapid tests.”
The Provincial Antigen Screening Program is part of a greater strategy to decrease the impact of COVID-19 on the people of Ontario and the economy. This includes stay at home measures, education campaigns on how to stay safe, significant testing and tracing capacity, and a robust vaccination distribution plan to make sure that every Ontarian who wants to be vaccinated will be vaccinated.
Quick Facts
- The StaySafe™ COVID-19 Rapid Screening Pilot program is a collaboration with the Government of Ontario, Communitech, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, and is supported by local community and business associations within Waterloo Region.
- A COVID-19 rapid screening test can be performed anywhere (e.g. on-site, at the place of employment) and does not require shipping a specimen to a lab for processing. It takes approximately 15 minutes to yield a result.
- Frequent screening with rapid antigen tests increases the chances of early identification of cases in otherwise asymptomatic individuals.
- Ontario has also released guidance for individuals or organizations that choose to participate in COVID-19 testing that falls outside of the public health care system, to ensure there is appropriate oversight and consumer protection and that public resources are supporting public health initiatives.
Quotes
“Rapid testing is a critical tool that can be used to protect essential workers and keep their workplaces safe. Making this screening tool more accessible to business owners will fight against the spread of COVID-19 in Waterloo Region and I hope to see significant uptake from small- and medium-sized local businesses.”
– Mike Harris
MPP, Kitchener-Conestoga
“Ensuring workplace testing is more accessible is one of many ways the Government of Canada is taking a Team Canada approach—working with provincial and municipal partners to protect Canadians and support main streets, and the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy during the pandemic. Together, we will get through this and come out the other side even stronger.”
– The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister
Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade
“This is a great example of what Ontario and Canada can do when governments, businesses and communities come together to take on COVID-19; we’re stronger together and we won’t back down from this virus. Thanks to the leadership of the Ford government, the way is paved to make the StaySafe program a reality and bring another tool to bear to reopen our economy and keep it open. The combination of vaccines, PPE and a strong testing strategy that includes serial rapid screening as well as diagnostic lab testing will help to keep Ontario’s businesses safe, help to reopen the economy, and keep us on track.”
– Iain Klugman
President and CEO, Communitech
“This program will help combat the spread and keep workplaces safe. It is an added tool that will give small business owners more confidence to manage their business through these most difficult times. We’ve known from the beginning that rapid screening was a vital tool in the fight against COVID-19. We are so pleased to play a major role in getting rapid screening to small- and medium-sized businesses, along with our regional partners.”
– Greg Durocher
President and CEO of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce
“We are grateful to our federal and provincial partners for funding this critical program for the local business community. In true Waterloo Region fashion, launching the program with local small and medium sized businesses is a testament to local success through our ongoing collaboration between government, business and public health.”
– Karen Redman
Chair Region of Waterloo
SOURCE Province of Ontario
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