News
Drive-Through COVID-19 Assessment Centre Opening in Casselman
2020-04-01
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), in partnership with the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, is opening a drive-through COVID-19 assessment centre in Casselman on Thursday, April 2nd, 2020. The centre is located at the EOHU’s Casselman office, at 872 Principale Street. The centre will be open Monday through Friday each week, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The aim of the drive-through assessment centre is to increase access to COVID-19 testing for EOHU area residents, while reducing the strain on 911, EMS, primary care and hospital emergency rooms so that they can focus on urgent care. “We’re hoping that opening the assessment centre will also reduce the risk of spreading the virus in hospitals and doctors’ offices, protecting healthcare workers and other patients from COVID-19 infection,” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health.
Assessment centre limited to people with moderate, worsening (but non-severe) symptoms
The EOHU stresses that not everyone who is concerned that they may have COVID-19 should go to the assessment centre. Only people who have worsening, but not severe, COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever and worsening cough) should go to the centre for testing. Not everyone may be tested; the decision to test will be based on symptoms, travel history, and contact history. For more information about testing, please consult the Ministry of Health’s case definition guidelines:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/2019_testing_clearing_cases_guidance.pdf
Those with mild symptoms that can be managed at home should not show up at the centre as they will not be tested. Individuals with mild symptoms should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the onset of symptoms and notify those that they may have been in contact with 2 days prior to having symptoms. People who have symptoms and are age 70 or over, or who have chronic medical conditions or compromised immune systems should call the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1-800-267-7120. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing should call 911 or go to the hospital emergency room.
Additional assessment centres may also open in the region. The EOHU will notify the public when these centres become available.
For more information on the Casselman COVID-19 drive-through assessment centre, or on COVID-19 in general, visit www.eohu.ca/coronavirus.
