Blenheim mobile testing clinic. July 16, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Lori Marshall via Twitter).Blenheim mobile testing clinic. July 16, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Lori Marshall via Twitter).
Chatham

Drive-thru testing clinics planned for August

Mobile testing clinics and the assessment centre in Chatham are seeing an uptick in the number of people choosing to get tested for COVID-19.

Although specific dates have not been set yet, mobile COVID-19 testing clinics will be held in Wheatley and Dresden in mid to late August. Dates for the clinics should be released within the next two weeks, according to CKHA Vice President of People and Chief Nursing Executive Lisa Northcott.

Multiple drive-thru clinics have been held in different areas of Chatham-Kent as part of a joint initiative between Chatham-Kent EMS, CK Public Health, and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

The latest clinics were held in Blenheim and Thamesville. Northcott said over 500 people were tested in Thamesville, which is the highest number seen at a drive-thru clinic in Chatham-Kent so far.

Previously, 457 people were swabbed at the clinic in Tilbury over the course of two days earlier this month.

Northcott said there has also been an increase in the number of people booking appointments at the assessment centre in Chatham.

"We're seeing over 100 people a day come for testing at that assessment clinic," she said.

The assessment centre is located at 47 Emma St. Residents are asked to book an appointment to be tested for COVID-19.

As of Thursday afternoon, there are 55 active cases of COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent. Fifty-one people are in self-isolation and four have been hospitalized. There is one active case on Walpole Island.

The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit reports that 13,759 residents have been tested for the novel coronavirus.

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