According to the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) for Grey Bruce Health Unit (GBHU), local assessment centres have not met the demand for COVID-19 testing in recent weeks.
“We did not meet the health needs of the community. I believe, as a system. It's worth mentioning that assessment centers are not under public health guidance, however, we work with the hospitals to ensure that that service is corrected,” said Dr. Ian Arra, MOH for GBHU in discussion with Grey County council during a meeting held on Thursday.
COVID-19 assessment centres in Grey County are operated by Grey Bruce Health Services, South Bruce Grey Health Centre and Hanover and District Hospital.
Arra explained that last week GBHU conducted an assessment survey of families with children currently enrolled in school in Grey and Bruce counties in regards to their access to COVID-19 testing.
He said that 80 per cent of survey respondents were able to access testing, 10 per cent had to travel outside of Grey and Bruce counties to a different testing site and 10 per cent of respondents decided to isolate themselves without testing.
Since the survey was conducted, Arra says the assessment centres in Grey have increased access to the public by adding additional operating hours per day and days per week.
According to GBHU, prior to expanding hours, the Grey Bruce Health Services was conducting approximately 2,000 tests in 14 days.
By expanding hours of operation, the health unit hopes to test an additional 200 people per week.
Arra says that GBHU will be conducting the same assessment survey again this week to ensure those seeking a COVID-19 test can access the service locally.
“All assessment centers just recently began testing over the weekend. And, I do believe this week's [survey] results are going to be very positive and that will be corrected,” he said.
All appointments for COVID-19 testing must be pre-booked via phone at 519-378-1466 or online at www.gbhs.on.ca.
