The Saskatchewan Health Authority is expanding delivery of the rapid antigen test kits to make them available to the general public, including First Nations communities, to support asymptomatic COVID-19 surveillance. The province recently received 2.6-million test kits from the federal government.

The province says more than 1.3-million will be distributed for free to the general public beginning on Monday, through participating fire halls, local chambers of commerce, and SHA testing and assessment centres. More than 360,000 tests will be provided to First Nations communities through a provincial allocation to Indigenous Services Canada.

It’s expected there will be a large demand, with one kit per household being distributed. Schools will be receiving 720,000 tests and the remainder will be allocated to other areas of the SHA’s Test to Protect Program, including congregate living facilities and to healthcare workers and businesses register for a workplace surveillance program.

For more information on where to pick up your rapid antigen tests, click here.

Self-testing (rapid antigen testing) is an additional asymptomatic surveillance tool, and is not a substitute for COVID-19 vaccination

Self-tests are an effective screening tool and are intended for those who do not have COVID-19 related symptoms (asymptomatic). If you have COVID-19 symptoms or if your self-test is positive, seek a lab PCR test through an SHA testing site or call HealthLine 811 to arrange for a test.

Self-tests distributed for the purpose of workplace or asymptomatic surveillance will not be accepted for the negative test requirement, as part of the proof of vaccination or negative test result policy.  Those negative test results must be purchased from an approved provider listed at Saskatchewan.ca/covid-19.

Providers who wish to be approved for providing COVID-19 testing for the negative test requirement and be listed on the Government of Saskatchewan website can apply, following the new process outlined at Saskatchewan.ca/covid-19.