Ontario will continue to provide free rapid COVID-19 antigen tests for another six months amid a "triple threat" of respiratory illnesses this winter.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones made this announcement today, Thursday, alongside Premier Doug Ford, while also discussing a new regional investment that will cover nursing fees.

Jones also said: "The triple threat of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 this year has placed additional demands on the healthcare system across the country. We continue to encourage all Ontario residents to stay up to date on their vaccinations, including receiving the available booster dose and the flu vaccine. We are also expanding the highly successful free rapid antigen testing program in grocery stores and pharmacies across the province until June 30, 2023."

Also, the Ontario government has distributed free rapid tests to over 2,000 locations since February 2022, with the program previously extended and originally scheduled to end on December 31.

When the program was first announced, the province said approximately 5.5 million tests would be distributed each week.

The province also announced on Thursday that it will provide the Michener Institute with over $4.6 million "to remove financial barriers for nurses wishing to upskill to work in critical care areas in hospitals."

The funding will be used to provide free tuition to students and cover college and hospital costs, with the Premier saying they expect nearly 600 nurses to complete their upskilling education by spring 2023.

The government is also investing more than $9.4 million to support accelerated critical care nursing training at several universities and colleges, as Ontario hospitals, including those with pediatric units, struggle to manage patient flow dealing with COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Patients have also reported unusually long wait times in emergency departments, and some surgeries were canceled due to bed shortages.

However, the Ontario government insisted there is no nursing crisis in the province, as just one day earlier, Jones told reporters that Ontario "has not seen a mass exodus of nurses" leaving the profession.