The Grey Bruce Health Unit officials are providing clarification of procedures for testing people who are worried they may have COVID-19 in the wake of a viral Facebook post.
In a post that had more than 780 shares as of 11:20 a.m. on Thursday, a woman claimed her school-aged son returned from Spain on March 7 and she became concerned he may have the virus. She said in the post she took him to Wiarton Hospital and was told he did not meet the criteria for testing and would not be tested. The woman also claimed there was a confrontation with the staff when she insisted on the boy being tested.
The health unit's public and media relations coordinator, Drew Ferguson, would not comment on the specific case. He did say people should call public health if they are concerned.
"Someone would be screened, it would be determined if they needed an assessment... An assessment is basically a nasal swab, a lab test," Ferguson said. "If someone doesn't have symptoms they would likely be advised to self-monitor or self-isolate. But should their status change we would be notified and we would direct them to appropriate action."
Ferguson said they are expecting the province to update screening criteria on Thursday.
The woman said she did eventually get him tested at an Owen Sound hospital and is awaiting those results.