Three COVID-19 assessment centres open in York Region
Mackenzie Health and Southlake Regional Health Centre have both opened its own COVID-19 assessment centre. Markham-Stouffville Hospital will open on Wednesday. The centres are located in or adjacent to each of the respective hospitals.
COVID-19 assessment centres help ease some of the pressures experienced by emergency department teams coordinating the testing and assessment of suspected COVID-19 cases to date. They will also help ensure local hospital emergency departments are focused on treating people who are critically ill and have life-threatening illnesses or injuries.
You can attend a COVID-19 assessment centre if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and you have:
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Recently returned from travel outside Canada within the last 14 days
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Been in close contact with someone who is a presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19
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Been in close contact with someone who has flu-like symptoms who has travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days
Symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever (over 38 degrees Celsius or 100 degrees Fahrenheit) combined with a new or worsening cough and-or new or worsening shortness of breath.
If you have concerns about symptoms, you should contact your primary care provider or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Each York Region hospital will manage their assessment centre based on their operational capacity. Ensure to check your local hospital’s website for specific hours of operation and procedures:
Not all people who attend a COVID-19 assessment centre will be tested for COVID-19.
The role of an assessment centre is to evaluate the need of each individual and triage patients accordingly. Each assessment centre will be managed by hospital staff and located in close proximity to an emergency department in case any patients being assessed require urgent care. If a patient is determined to be ill but not requiring hospitalization, self-isolation or monitoring at home may be required.
York Region Public Health continues to collaborate with local hospitals, emergency services and other health agencies to ensure prompt reporting and follow up of all individuals who may require testing for COVID-19.
Patients who test positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by York Region Public Health for follow up and monitoring. Patients with negative test results will also be notified by York Region Public Health.
Everyone in our community should be mindful of the community-based measures they can take to help mitigate the spread of the disease, including practicing good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette (coughing into the elbow) and social distancing.
Due to the sensitive nature of these assessment centres, members of the media will not be allowed to enter. Filming within the facility is prohibited.
Visit york.ca/covid19 for more information.
(Source: The Regional Municipality of York ) |