Free COVID-19 tests now available for residents 40 and over

The province has lowered the age requirement for accessing rapid COVID-19 antigen tests kits at pharmacies.

As of today (March 15), British Columbians aged 40 and over can pick up a kit containing five rapid tests free of charge at participating pharmacies.

Individuals must present their personal health number when picking up a kit.

Each eligible resident can receive one kit every 28 days.

People can pick up tests on behalf of another individual, though they must be able to provide the name, date of birth and health number of the individual in question to get the kit.

The province advises people to only pick up the kits when they do not have any symptoms of COVID-19, and to only use the tests when symptoms are present.

The province has already shipped seven-million tests to pharmacy distributors for this program. An additional four-million tests are expected to be sent to the province from the federal government in the next three weeks, which will go to support this pharmacy distribution initiative.