Asymptomatic risk-based testing will now be offered at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Chatham.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance reported on Monday afternoon that any local resident who has symptoms or who is concerned they may have been exposed to COVID-19 will be able to get tested at the centre at 47 Emma Street. The CKHA said it is responding to the province's evolving and expanding COVID-19 testing guidelines. The new testing approach will support the continued focus on reducing the spread of the virus and protecting vulnerable populations.
"No Ontarian who is symptomatic or who is concerned they have been exposed to COVID-19 will be declined a test at an assessment centre," stated the news release.
Patients are being advised to continue booking an appointment online at www.assessmentbooking.ca before arriving at the assessment centre.
Testing criteria now includes:
Symptomatic testing:
1. All people with at least one symptom of COVID-19, including those with mild symptoms.
Asymptomatic, risk-based testing:
2. People who are concerned that they have been exposed to COVID-19. This includes people who are contacts of or may have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case.
3. People who are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their employment, including essential workers (e.g., health care workers, grocery store employees, food processing plants).
Previously, only doctor referrals were accepted at the centre but a shift to meet increased provincial testing targets allowed people to refer themselves on Friday.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
Fever (temperature of 37.8 C or greater) New or worsening cough Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Other symptoms of COVID-19 can include:
Sore throat Difficulty swallowing New olfactory or tastes disorder(s) Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Runny nose or nasal congestion (if not related to seasonal allergies or post nasal drip, etc.)
Other signs of COVID-19 can include:
Clinical or radiological evidence of pneumonia
CKHA said uncommon symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) should be considered, particularly in children, older persons, and people living with a developmental disability.
Unexplained fatigue/malaise/myalgias (muscle aches) Delirium (acutely altered mental status and inattention) Unexplained or increased number of falls Acute functional decline Exacerbation of chronic conditions Chills Headaches Croup Conjunctivitis (pink eye) Multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children
Signs of unusual symptoms can include:
Unexplained tachycardia (a heart rate over 100 beats per minute), including age-specific tachycardia for children Decrease in blood pressure Unexplained hypoxia, a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level, (inclusive of mild hypoxia) Lethargy, difficulty feeding in infants (if no other diagnosis)
Hospital officials are advising people to book an appointment rather than randomly attend the assessment centre because patients who arrive as a walk-in will be seen at the earliest convenience by the health care team and may be asked to return the next day or book an appointment if all of the time slots are filled. Click here to book an appointment.
A valid “green” Ontario health card is needed to get an appointment and an email address is required to receive an appointment date and time.
Patients who have a “red and white” Ontario health card, or those who do not have access to technology, can book an appointment by calling CKHA’s Registration at 519.352.6400 ext. 6548 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. After hours and on weekends, patients can call CKHA’s Switchboard at 519.352.6400 ext. 6584.
Patients are also reminded to bring their health card when attending the assessment centre so the health care team can properly identify them and to not forget to bring a list of medications and any other information regarding allergies and past medical issues.