Thread by @CityCynthia

NEW: Premier Doug Ford in Huntsville today for his daily update - he's at a Shoppers Drug Mart - perhaps about to announce #covid19 testing in pharmacies

Premier says testing needs to be expanded earlier and as easy as getting a flu shot. Starting Friday up to 60 pharmacies will offer #Covi19 testing (he has said in the past about 2-thousand would take part)

Premier also says Mt Sinai, Women's College, UHN will offer saliva testing (he said this yesterday as well) and promises more will be released on testing strategy tomorrow #covid19

Health Minister Christine Elliott says #covid19 testing in the 60 pharmacies is for asymptomatic people only, they will go by appointment only and will have to do a pre-testing to ensure they have no symptoms before being tested.

Premier Ford is asked how many people are turned away from crowded assessment centres - he answers by saying Ontario has tested more people than the rest of the country combined and promises to ramp up testing and take the load off the system. #covid19

Premier is asked if he will consider shutting schools down (2 have been so far out of the 180 impacted with cases - there are 4,828 schools in ON) "everything is on the table" he says, adding the system is working but he won't hesitate to shut them all again if necessary #covid19

Premier blames Health Canada for not approving rapid antigen tests. "I'm hearing crickets" he says, asking how they are expected to plan ahead. #covid19

Health Minister Christine Elliott says saliva tests being offered in 3 hospitals will initially be done along with current nasal swabs to ensure their effectiveness #covid19

She also says the current recommendation from the Health table is for anyone who wants to be tested to have the opportunity regardless of whether they have symptoms or not #covid19

"We're kicking Alberta's butt, I love Jason (Kenney) he's a pal of mine." Premier Ford when asked why Ontario is 3 months behind Alberta in pharmacy testing for #covid19