Loblaws wants to expand pharmacy coronavirus testing across Canada

Loblaw Companies Limited is looking at expanding coronavirus testing services to its Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies across Canada.

Shoppers locations in Alberta have been offering coronavirus testing for about two months now, and the company says it’s interested in bringing that service to other provinces.

“We continue to talk to other provinces about how pharmacies can be part of the solution,” a company spokesperson told Daily Hive via email.

Although the spokesperson didn’t say which provinces the company is in talks with, Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed earlier this week he’s discussing bringing coronavirus testing to Shoppers locations there.

“We’ve been discussing this for a little while now and we’ve reached out to Shoppers Drug Mart, the CEO of Loblaws that owns Shoppers as well, and they’re being very cooperative, so I might as well come out and say it,” he said Monday.

In Alberta, pharmacies only test people who are not presenting symptoms. Anyone feeling sick needs to contact Alberta Health Services to have their test done at a healthcare facility where they won’t interact with members of the public.

Alberta suggests asymptomatic people get tested at a drug store under the following circumstances:

• Before or after spending time with individuals who have a higher risk of serious health outcomes (e.g., anyone over 65 or with underlying medical conditions)
• Before or after travelling internationally, attending an event with recent travellers, or hosting them.
• Before or after participating in activities or events that may have put you at a higher risk of exposure (e.g., a large gathering where physical distancing was not followed).
• For frontline workers who have regular interactions with Albertans, particularly those at higher risk of serious outcomes.

Loblaws wants Canadians in other jurisdictions to have access to the same service.

“Pharmacists across the country are ready with the infrastructure and the desire to help Canadians,” Shoppers Drug Mart spokesperson Ashesh Desai said in a news release. “We want to do more to be part of the solution.”