The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has issued a reminder about the recently opened COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Chatham.
“On Thursday, March 19, 2020, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) launched its COVID-19 Assessment Centre at 47 Emma Street in Chatham under the direction of Ontario Health, West Region,” CKHA officials said in a media release.
“The goal of the COVID-19 Assessment Centre is to build capacity to respond to individuals experiencing symptoms which could be caused by COVID-19 in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, and to separate testing away from the hospital.”
CKHA officials are reminding the public of the following:
– This is not a walk-in clinic, if you think you have symptoms related to COVID-19 please call your primary care provider, CK Public Health or Telehealth Ontario. They will discuss your symptoms and travel history and can advise if you should attend the assessment centre.
– If you need to come to the assessment centre, please bring your Health Card with you. This helps staff working at the assessment centre properly identify you.
– Please bring a list of medications and any other information regarding allergies and past medical issues.
– Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. AND the last patient will be seen at 4:30 p.m.
– If you arrive after 4:30 p.m., please do NOT present to the Emergency Department. Return home to self-isolate and come back to the assessment centre in the morning.
– CKHA’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre is located at 47 Emma Street, next to the Chatham Site. Please park in the lot adjacent to the building. Free parking is available during hours of operation.
CKHA officials say if people are unsure if their symptoms should be checked out at the assessment centre, they are encouraging people to follow the advice of Dr. Dax Biondi, Chief and Program Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at CKHA:
“If you have fever and new cough but otherwise:
– You are able to breath reasonably normal, outside of coughing spells,
– You are able to drink liquids, you are urinating a normal number of times per day, and
– You are able to move about your home reasonably normal, go home and self-isolate for 14 days.
Do NOT come to the emergency room or the assessment centre.”
Individuals concerned about symptoms that could be caused by COVID-19 can complete a self-assessment provided by the Ministry of Health online at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus.
For more details, see the video message below:
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Details, here.
For a list of local cancellations, postponement and further updates, click here.
