COVID-19

Rapid antigen test (RAT) kits will be available through select City of Hamilton locations. Pharmacies and participating grocery stores will continue to have kits available as long as their current supplies last. A list of participating City of Hamilton locations is presented below. Please note, RAT kits will only be available during these locations’ operating hours:

Accessing RAT kits

People with symptoms of COVID-19, especially those at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 looking to access COVID-19 antiviral treatment.

• High risk individuals include:
  • People who identify as First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
  • Temporary foreign workers
  • People in congregate living settings, like long-term care homes and retirement homes
  • Adults 60 years of age and older
  • Immunocompromised adults 18 years of age and older
  • Adults 18 – 59 years old with:
    • One or more underlying medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart or lung disease - full list of conditions) or;
    • Inadequate immunity against COVID-19 from:
      • Not receiving a full primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine
      • Having received a full primary series but no COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection within the past six (6) months
  • It is the recommendation of Hamilton Public Health Services that those individuals considered to be at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 have access to COVID-19 tests at home, and speak with their health care provider in advance about treatment options and develop a treatment plan to avoid obstacles if they become sick
• People without symptoms of COVID-19 for screening purposes

Rapid testing does not replace preventive measures such as symptom screening, staying home when sick, practicing healthy hand hygiene, physical distancing, and/or masking. 

Disposing of rapid antigen tests

For individuals, waste from at-home rapid antigen test use should be double bagged and may be disposed of in a garbage container.

For organizations, waste generated from on-site workplace rapid antigen test use is considered a hazardous waste under the Environmental Protection Act. This waste must be disposed of at a waste facility approved to handle biomedical waste

• You can engage an approved biomedical waste hauler to transport rapid antigen tests to an appropriate waste facility
• If you choose to transport rapid test kits without the assistance of an approved hauler, you should take the following precautions:
  • Waste should be stored in an appropriate sealed biohazard container that is designed to prevent leaks and spills
  • Waste should be transported as directly as possible to the waste facility

For more information, please see Ontario’s guidance for the Safe Handling and Management of Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Testing Waste.

PCR Test Eligibility

You are eligible for PCR testing if you have COVID-19 symptoms and belong to any of the following groups:

• People aged 60 years of age and older
• People aged 18 years of age and older who have at least one condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease
• People aged 18 years of age and older who are unvaccinated or have not completed their first round of vaccinations (e.g., their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines)
• People aged 18 years of age and older who have received their first round of vaccinations (or primary series) AND received their last COVID-19 vaccine dose more than 6 months ago AND have not had a COVID-19 infection in the past 6 months
• People who are immunocompromised
• Pregnant people
• Patients seeking emergency medical care or other outpatients where the health care professional judges it to be necessary
• Health care workers providing patient care
• Staff, volunteers, residents/inpatients, essential care providers, and visitors in highest risk settings including hospitals and congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including international agriculture workers
• Household members of staff in highest risk settings and patient-facing health care workers
• Home and community care workers
• People who are underhoused or experiencing homelessness
• First responders, including firefighters, police and paramedics

For a full list of eligible groups, please visit the provincial testing guidelines

If you are in distress (e.g., significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), do not go to get tested. Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.

You are also eligible for PCR or rapid molecular testing if you belong to any of the following groups whether you have symptoms or not:

• 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, Ontario Health Insurance Plan (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
• Staff of highest risk settings who, within the last 10 days, have had close contact with an individual with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 or an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, for the purposes of facilitating return to work, as directed by sector-specific guidance or Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) or Occupational Health staff.

For a full list of eligible groups, please visit the provincial testing guidelines.

Accessing PCR Testing

People with COVID-19 symptoms may seek PCR tests if eligible. Publicly funded PCR tests are available to eligible people in Hamilton through participating pharmacies. To find the closest pharmacy to get a COVID-19 PCR test, please visit Ontario’s COVID-19 Testing Locations.

Please note that all pharmacies require a booked appointment to receive a test and that you are encouraged to follow public health measures when going for your appointment. This includes bringing a well-fitting mask (as masking may be required), and cleaning hands frequently.