Starting Wednesday, February 16, Bruce County residents can pick up rapid tests at their local Bruce County Public Library Branch. Bruce County Public Library received 7,500 federally distributed rapid tests through the United Way of Bruce Grey and The Canadian Red Cross. Staff will parcel these tests into kits of five with detailed instructions and information from Health Canada. There is a limit of one test kit per household to ensure the widest possible access to these free tests.

United Way's mission states it is putting your donations to work where they get the most significant results. Library Director Brooke McLean agrees that providing libraries with rapid tests for their communities will have great results. "We are very grateful to the United Way of Bruce Grey for providing us with these rapid antigen tests to distribute. These free tests will greatly assist residents in slowing the spread of COVID-19.”

The Canadian Red Cross has been a leader in providing rapid tests to Canadians through programs like their 'Stop the Spread' and many more initiatives. Throughout the pandemic, the Bruce County Public Library and its staff have worked to find innovative ways they can offer support to Bruce County residents. Since September 2021, over 25,000 vaccine receipts have been printed and laminated out of their branches, an initiative that is still running.

Stop by your local Bruce County Public Library branch to pick up a kit. For a list of branches and hours, visit library.brucecounty.on.ca/locations.

source: media release