Ontario will no longer distribute free COVID-19 rapid tests at grocery stores and pharmacies.

The program will wind down June 30th due to lower rates of the virus,  high vaccination rates and decreasing demand for tests.

The Ministry of Health is encouraging stores to place final orders by June 16th.

The free rapid tests will still be distributed in some high priority communities until the end of the year.

The announcement is not sitting well with the Opposition at Queen’s Park.

NDP health critic France Gelinas says the tests should continue to be available  especially for vulnerable people.

“Do we need them in every pharmacy in the numbers that we had before? Probably not. But do they need to be available to every community? Yes,” she said.

Gelinas added that while online retailers are still selling rapid tests, not everyone can afford them.

Liberal health critic Adil Shamji believes the government should be making it easier for people to stay safe and healthy.