COVID-19 Assessment Centre reducing days of operation due to drop in demand for testing
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With demand dwindling, the Chatham-Kent COVID-19 Assessment Centre will, starting Monday, be open for only four days per week.
The assessment centre at 10 Grand Ave. W. in Chatham will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and will be closed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, a Chatham-Kent Health Alliance media release stated.
The assessment centre will also close on all statutory holidays, including the upcoming Canada Day holiday on July 1, hospital group officials said.
Hospital officials also asked that resident who require and qualify a COVID-19 PCR test to continue using the online booking tool at www.assessmentbooking.ca. For those without access to a computer or smartphone, an appointment can still be made by calling the booking line at 519-436-2556.
The assessment centre will also continues to offer care for those with mild to moderate COVID-19, cold and flu-like symptoms who need a clinical assessment, health alliance officials said.
The assessment centre provides clinical staff who will conduct an assessment, may offer a COVID-19 test and may offer treatments, hospital officials added. You do not have to be eligible for a COVID-19 test in order to go to the assessment centre.
Mild to moderate COVID-19, cold and flu-like symptoms include:
One of:
- Fever and/or chills;
- Cough or barking cough (croup); and
- Decrease or loss of taste or smell;
And/or two of:
- Muscle aches;
- Extreme tiredness;
- Sore throat;
- Runny or stuffy/congested nose;
- Headache; and
- Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
An appointment for a clinical assessment should be made if a patient knows or suspects they have COVID-19 and:
- have been directed by a family doctor or nurse practitioner; or
- are unable to safely monitor their symptoms at home; or
- are concerned their symptoms may be worsening.
If patients have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, they are advised to call them first, hospital officials said.
The assessment centre is not for urgent or emergency care. In those cases, residents are urged to call 911 or go to the emergency department, health alliance officials said.
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