Two programs available to small, medium employers
Retail company Shoppers Drug Mart, in partnership with the federal government, is offering COVID-19 antigen screening options for small and medium employers in Alberta who want to more safely operate or reopen their businesses.
“Getting through this pandemic will require a three-pronged strategy – following public health guidelines and recommendations, increased and frequent COVID-19 testing and screening, and vaccinations,” said Ashesh Desai, executive vice president for pharmacy and healthcare, Shoppers Drug Mart. “Providing convenient, accessible and affordable testing options for employers will become increasingly important as we look to reopen the economy while keeping employees and Canadians safe.”
Shoppers Drug Mart offers two distinct programs available for businesses in Alberta depending on employers' size, need and location. Small and medium-sized organizations can pick up antigen screening tests at any Shoppers Drug Mart location.
The rapid screening tests are being provided for free by the federal government, but stores will charge a small handling fee for each box of 25 tests. Employers can visit this link to easily manage registrations, orders and for tracking results.
Migrant farm workers who come to Ontario from other countries are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and other diseases, according to a previous report. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, some 25 per cent of the total death count because of the virus were attributed to immigrants, according to another report.
Widespread rapid screening can provide employers with an early warning system, helping to identify COVID-19 infections before they spread, according to Shoppers Drug Mart.
Rapid antigen tests can provide results within 15-20 minutes, giving workplaces additional and readily accessible information to help keep their employees safe.
More than three in five (63 per cent) small businesses are considering using COVID-19 rapid screening in their workplace if it would help their business stay open, according to a report released in February.
An antigen screening test can detect an active COVID-19 infection by detecting the presence of antigens – or specific proteins on a virus's surface. Although less sensitive than PCR testing, the antigen screening test can enhance currently available public testing programs, providing faster and more convenient options for employers, according to Shoppers Drug Mart.
