NEWS RELEASE
GREY BRUCE HEALTH UNIT
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Three COVID-19 assessment centres will open in the Grey Bruce region this week to help identify and triage patients with symptoms of COVID-19.
The assessment centres will help expand hospital capacity to assess and screen patients who have symptoms of COVID-19, and free up Emergency Department resources to continue to safely manage the normal volume of patients.
Who should come to the assessment centre?
The assessment centres are for individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 who are having difficulty managing at home. Please follow these guidelines to determine if you should come.
1. If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, please do not come to the assessment centre.
2. If you have mild symptoms, and you can manage at home, please stay home and self-isolate. Do not come to the assessment centre. Information on self-isolation, as well as guidance for caregivers and family members in the home, is available here: www.ontario.ca/coronavirus.
3. If you have symptoms, and are struggling at home, come to an assessment centre.
4. If you are very ill, go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.
There will be assessment centres at Owen Sound Regional Hospital starting March 18 from noon to 8 p.m. seven days per week, at Kincardine Hospital starting March 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days per week, and at Hanover and District Hospital starting March 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Appointments are not necessary. Patients will be pre-screened, and will be asked to wash their hands and put on a mask prior to entry. To reduce risk and traffic within the centres, only those patients who require assistance will be permitted to bring a support person with them into the facilities.
Following screening at the assessment centres, patients will be sent home to self-isolate and monitor symptoms, unless the patient is critically ill and requires hospitalization. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Most patients experience mild symptoms, and recover fully without treatment within two weeks.
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