by: kellen taniguchi
some edmonton pharmacies have been running out their covid-19 rapid test supply within hours, as demand increases with the rise of the omicron variant in the province.
ghada haggag, owner of all care pharmacy in the capilano neighbourhood, said she’s gone through seven boxes of the rapid tests, each containing 108 kits.
“it’s a crazy time, we’ve never seen it this busy before,” said haggag. “the first friday it was -29 c, we opened at 9 a.m. and i had a line up outside even to the grocery store nearby, like you cannot imagine, 35 people lining up before you open.”
haggag said kits have been picked up from people living in fort saskatchewan and sherwood park because their local pharmacy wasn’t a part of the rapid test program. she added her friend’s pharmacy in the west end was getting customers from spruce grove and stony plain.
haggag said her pharmacy received four boxes of the tests on dec. 17 and three more on dec. 23 — running out within three-and-a-half hours each time. however, she said she is unsure when she will be able to order more tests.
“when we got it the first time, we had zero information that we are going to get it again,” she said. “when we don’t get communication from the government, we don’t know if we’re going to get more tests or not.”