Select travellers will receive free COVID-19 PCR tests at Toronto Pearson Airport

Feb 26 2021, 6:48 pm

Select travellers will be able to receive free COVID-19 PCR tests at Toronto Pearson Airport starting on Monday as part of a 10-week testing program.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) will work with a team of Canadian healthcare companies to run a 10-week antigen test study at Toronto Pearson Airport.

According to the release, the study will make free COVID-19 tests available to employees and eligible passengers on select routes who are willing to volunteer as participants.

The study will begin on March 1, exploring the efficacy of antigen testing, compared with the rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and rapid PCR testing in an airport setting.

Test results will be provided to the participant within two hours. They will also be tested using Response Biomedical rapid antigen tests.

In addition, airport workers — many of whom live in communities adjacent to the airport — taking part in this research will help to identify, trace and isolate COVID-19 at work and home in the communities close to the airport.

“The GTAA is one of the City of Mississauga’s strongest partners, and this study demonstrates its strong commitment to protecting the thousands of Mississauga residents who work at Pearson, as well as their families,” said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, in a statement.

“What makes this study particularly important is that its findings could be applicable to other work settings, not only in Mississauga but across Ontario and the entire country. This is yet another example of the GTAA being on the cutting edge of innovation and community safety.”

By testing multiple times per week over multiple weeks, researchers will be able to study how frequent use of antigen tests can improve workplace safety by reducing the risk of virus spread.

Clarrie FeinsteinClarrie Feinstein

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