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By Shane Clausing

COVID-19 testing

Alberta expands asymptomatic COVID-19 testing to include all Loblaw owned stores

Aug 19, 2020 | 5:00 AM

As the start of a new school year approaches, and the Alberta government encourages all of its 90,000 teachers to get tested before classes start in September, the province announced on Tuesday that all 234 Loblaw owned stores with pharmacies will open their doors for asymptomatic COVID-19 testing.

Loblaws owned stores offering the testing include Shoppers Drug Mart, Real Canadian Superstore, Independent Foods, Extra Foods, City Market, and No Frills.

Currently, there are 75 community pharmacies offering COVID-19 testing in the province. Testing is expected to be ready at all of the Loblaw locations by September 1.

“Overall, it increases Alberta’s testing capacity by about 3,000-4,000 tests a day. That would serve half or more of Alberta’s teachers and school staff,” said Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

“We will need this added capacity plus that of all community pharmacists that are already testing for COVID-19, if we are to test these 90,000 teachers and school staff in just a few weeks. With that in mind, I repeat my request to teachers and school staff to book your test now, so that volume does not overwhelm the system.”

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Tests can be booked at Alberta Health Services website.

Dr. Hinshaw also reiterated a message to asymptomatic Albertan’s who feel completely fine, to hold off getting tested until the middle of September, so teachers can take advantage before they head back to the classrooms.

Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms is asked to book an appointment to get tested.

So far, the province has preformed 837,649 tests on 677,754 Albertan’s.