Free supply of COVID-19 tests coming to an end in Saskatchewan

Rapid antigen tests will still be available at local distribution centres while supplies last.

Published Feb 14, 2024 • 1 minute read

Positive, left, and negative COVID-19 antigen rapid tests are picture in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. New data suggest a recent surge in COVID-19 activity in British Columbia appears to be on the wane, with hospital admissions, deaths and test positivity all down sharply. Photo by Jeff McIntosh /The Canadian Press

With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly four years in the rear-view, measures like masks, social distancing and free COVID-19 test kits have continued to wind down.

On Wednesday, the Government of Saskatchewan confirmed it will no longer supply free tests, which have been widely available at voluntary distribution sites like public libraries.

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In response to the pandemic, the federal government procured and distributed rapid antigen tests to provinces and territories, making them freely available to individuals and families as a way to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

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“The program was completed at the end of 2022 when the last of the federally-supplied tests were sent to provinces,” said a statement from the Ministry of Health on Wednesday. “Saskatchewan has made every effort to use this stock responsibly by making the tests widely available to the public through more than 600 partnering distribution sites.”

In November 2022, the province said it had no “current” plan to end distribution as the federal prepared to stop regular supply of rapid test kits in 2023. The government said it would keep a reserve that may be used “in the case of potential resurgence of COVID-19.”

The province says that remaining test kits will continue to be available at public distribution locations across Saskatchewan while supplies last, but the tests that are still available will largely expire in March 2024.

In an Instagram post Tuesday, the Regina Public Library said test kits will remain available at all locations while supplies last.

The ministry of health said Rapid Antigen Tests for COVID-19 are still available for purchase from retailers, as they have been since demand for tests first emerged.

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