As of April 12, 2022, the following individuals are eligible to receive pharmacy services related to publicly funded COVID-19 testing:

Symptomatic people who fall into one of the following groups:

• People aged 70 years and older

• People aged 60 years and older who have less than three doses of COVID-19 vaccine

• People who are immunocompromised

• Adults aged 18 years and older who have had less than three doses of COVID-19 vaccine and have risk conditions:

  1.  obesity (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2)
  2. diabetes 
  3. heart disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure 
  4. chronic respiratory disease, including cystic fibrosis 
  5. cerebral palsy 
  6. intellectual disability 
  7. sickle cell disease 
  8. moderate or severe kidney disease (eGFR <60mL/min) 
  9. moderate or severe liver disease (e.g., Child Pugh Class B or C cirrhosis) 

• Other people at higher risk of severe disease who may be eligible for COVID-19 treatment if they tested positive

• Pregnant people

• Patient-facing healthcare workers

• Staff, volunteers, residents/inpatients, essential care providers, and visitors in highest risk settings

  1. Highest risk settings include: hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services), and congregate living settings2 with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including, but not limited to long-term care homes, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, correctional institutions, and hospital schools. 

• Household members of staff in highest risk settings and patient-facing health care workers

• Home and community care workers

• Staff and students in Provincial and Demonstration Schools

• Elementary and secondary students and education staff who have received a PCR self-collection kit through their school

• International Agriculture Workers in congregate living settings.

• Patients seeking emergency medical care, at the discretion of the treating physician.

• Other outpatients for whom a diagnostic test is required for clinical management, at the discretion of the treating clinician 

• People who are underhoused or experiencing homelessness 

• First responders, including fire, police and paramedics 

Symptomatic/asymptomatic people: 

• Individuals who are from a First Nation, Inuit, Métis community, and/or who self-identify as First Nation, Inuit, and Métis, and their household members 
• Individuals travelling into First Nation, Inuit, Métis communities for work 
• On admission/transfer to or from hospital or congregate living setting 
• People in the context of confirmed or suspected outbreaks in highest risk settings as directed by the local public health unit 
• Individuals, and one accompanying caregiver, with written prior approval for out-of-country medical services from the General Manager, OHIP 
• Any patient with a scheduled surgical procedure requiring a general anaesthetic 24-48 hours prior to procedure date 
• Newborns born to people with confirmed COVID-19 at the time of birth within 24 hours of delivery, with a repeat test at 48 hours after birth if baseline test is negative, or if the parental test results are pending at the time of discharge 
• People 24-48 hours prior to treatment for cancer or prior to hemodialysis, at the discretion of the treating clinician