Collingwood’s COVID-19 assessment centre is operating below capacity, and is seeing lower than expected volume, particularly over the Easter weekend.
The assessment centre was first set up at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and was moved to the Erie Street medical centre on April 1. It is being operated by Georgian Bay Family Health Team (GBFHT).
Marie LaRose, executive director for GBFHT said staff at the centre were expecting a surge in patients wanting to be tested this weekend since the province announced more relaxed testing rules.
However, there were just 11 people through the assessment centre on April 11 and 16 on April 12.
“It’s just a case of getting people in,” said LaRose. “We can do the testing, but we aren’t seeing the volumes. We really anticipated it would be busier.”
Good Friday was busier, with 33 test completed on April 10. Daily test totals at the Erie Street site outside of Easter weekend have ranged from 13 up to 43. The lowest numbers 13-18) are recorded on Saturdays and Sundays, but the assessment centre is open seven days a week. Through the week, the centre is recording totals from 32 to 43 tests done per day.
Testing through the assessment centre is done by appointment. Patients can be referred by their family physician, or they can self-refer by calling 705-444-5885.
The phone is answered by GBFHT staff, and the patient is screened on the phone.
“Most people who call do have some symptoms,” said LaRose.
She said the assessment centre is following the province’s rules for testing, and has also taken Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s advice by expanding testing even further.
If you have any symptom(s) you can call to be screened for a test.
“Pretty much anybody can be tested,” said LaRose.
The people answering the phone can also refer callers to the family physician at the after hours clinic on site too, particularly if it seems their symptoms are not COVID-19 related, but they are still unwell.
Tests are done on site while patients remain in their car. The tent is staffed by two people, which can include two local physicians, or a physician and a nurse practitioner. If you arrive via public transit or on foot, there is a chair outside to sit in while you are tested.
“There are 52 family physicians associated with our family health team … we have the capacity to add registered nurses to the mix … we have nurse practitioners … we have a whole line of defense if we need to add more resources to it,” she said. “We’ve got the capacity as far as human resources.”
LaRose added the team is being proactive in preserving personal protective equipment. Though the assessment centre is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday, the team will schedule appointments in blocks.
“Nobody has gone without an appointment,” she said.
For more information on the symptoms of COVID-19 and to take a self-assessment online, click here.
You can also join a waitlist for testing on the GBFHT website.
