THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce has expanded their COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution in the district.
Rapid antigen test kits for use in small businesses are now available in Geraldton, Greenstone, Atikokan, and Marathon and their surrounding areas.
Through numerous collaborations between the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, Geraldton Chamber of Commerce and the Geraldton Times Star, the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation, and the Marathon & District Chamber of Commerce and the Township of Marathon, the kits have been made available to those businesses wishing to use them during the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rapid testing initiative, which involves the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Ontario and Canadian governments in partnership with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, has resulted in more than 14,000 free rapid tests that have already been distributed to 130 participating small- and medium-sized businesses in the Thunder Bay District alone.
“Through this collaborative effort, we are pleased to be offering free rapid test kits here in Greenstone as they can serve as a great additional screening tool for businesses to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 within their workplaces while giving their workers extra peace of mind for themselves and for the wider community that they serve,” said Eric Pietsch of the Geraldton Chamber of Commerce.
Dan Elliott, economic development officer with the Town of Marathon, added, “While vaccination rates are increasing and daily case numbers are coming down in Ontario, businesses continue to be impacted by COVID-19 and onsite rapid testing is an excellent tool to both improve workplace safety and accelerate the recovery of our local economy.”
The COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative provides free rapid antigen tests for employees of small- and medium-sized businesses with a goal to identify asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in the workplace that might otherwise be missed. This in turn helps to curb the spread in the workplace, at home and around the community.
Interested businesses in Greenstone can sign up online www.tbchamber.ca/rapidtest-greenstone, then order their two-week supply of rapid tests for pickup at the Geraldton Times Star, 401 Main Street, in Geraldton.
Those in Atikokan can sign up at www.tbchamber.ca/rapidtest-atikokan, then order their two-week supply of rapid tests for pickup at the distribution centre at the Atikokan EDC at 214 Main Street, Suite 200.
In Marathon, businesses can sign up at www.tbchamber.ca/rapidtest-marathon, then order their two-week supply of rapid tests for pickup at the distribution centre at Marathon Town Hall, 4 Hemlo Drive.
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