With an increase in demand for people wanting to get tested for COVID-19, the Timmins hospital has expanded its assessment centre hours.
In recent weeks, Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) communications specialist Kaileigh Russell said the demand for testing has almost doubled. Sept. 22, the assessment centre saw 216 people, with the recent numbers averaging around there.
At the start of this week, the hospital announced it's partnering with the Cochrane District Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to roughly double the testing capacity at the centre located across the street from the hospital.
"As we come into cold/flu and fall allergy season we are expecting to see an increase in symptomatic individuals reaching out for testing," she said.
The assessment centre's extended hours are Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Testing is by appointment only, and walk-ins are not allowed.
To book an appointment, call 705-267-0224. The centre is experiencing a high volume of calls and people are asked to allow for 24 hours for a response to a message. The calls are returned during the hours the assessment centre is open.
"Through the Assessment Centre’s surge plan we have the ability to increase our hours of operation and through strategic partnerships we’re able to increase testing capacity. At this point in time we are not opening a drive-through testing centre however we will continue to adapt our services to meet the needs of our community," said Russell.
To date, there have been 81 confirmed cases of the virus in the Porcupine Health Unit region. Of those, 67 are recovered and nine people have died. There are five known active cases in the region.
The health unit is aware of 22,317 tests being done locally, which is an increase of 333 from yesterday's report.
According to the TADH news release, there are currently no patients admitted to hospital who are positive.
"In-house COVID-19 testing is only performed on patients who are being admitted to hospital and/or inpatients. We are kindly asking the community to please contact the assessment centre at 705-267-0224 to schedule their COVID-19 testing and not present to the emergency department. Our emergency department remains open 24/7 for those requiring urgent medical care," reads the news release.
Today, the province announced changes to who should be getting tested.
The province had been encouraging anyone who wanted at COVID-19 test to get one. Ontario health officials are now promoting that testing be reserved for people with symptoms, or who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.
Testing is also being expanded to pharmacies, but no pharmacies in Northern Ontario are included in the first phase of that program when it rolls out Friday.
