CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce is running a COVID-19 “rapid screening initiative” in Wellington County, providing free rapid tests for businesses with under 150 employees.
The Chamber of Commerce first heard about the program from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with both the provincial and federal governments.
“It seemed like the right thing to do,” said Litchfield.
The program has been running for about a month.
Small businesses in Wellington County can apply for this program at any time as the project is ongoing.
Its goal is to allow businesses to develop a screening process, with employees taking the tests one to three times a week.
The tests specifically target asymptomatic cases. Those with COVID-19 but without symptoms are still capable of transmitting the virus.
With testing kits provided from the federal government, the chamber offers the program free-of-charge, but there is still a cost in the way of disposal fees.
To keep the program free for businesses, community organizations have sponsored the chamber in their effort, including The Rotary Club of Fergus- Elora, Curtis Villar Chartered Professional Accountants, Ecclestone Financial Group, and Record Tel Inc.
When the Fergus-Elora Rotary Club first heard about the initiative, they knew they wanted to support it.
“We felt that it was a good way to give back to our community,” said Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora community service director Leanne Iravani.
The club’s sponsorship money was presented to the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce at a June 4 cheque presentation.
The kits will be available for pick-up at pre-scheduled pick-up times at the distribution centre, which is on the lower level of the Ecclestone Financial Group building at 245 St. David St. N. in Fergus.
“A designate from each business, responsible for supervising the self-screening collection onsite, will be required to receive video training to properly supervise the screening process and safely dispose of the used kits,” the local chamber’s press release read.
Interested business can register for the kits at https://cwchamber.ca/News/Workplace-Self-Screening-Kits.
