Northumberland gets a third dedicated COVID testing facility
By Cecilia Nasmith
The Ontario Health Team-Northumberland announces the opening of a third dedicated COVID-19 testing service on Nov. 4, with Port Hope joining Cobourg and Campbellford among communities with such a facility.
Formed just prior to the pandemic, the OHT-N moved quickly to mobilize community resources around this unprecedented health challenge in a proactive phased approach that focuses human resources where they are needed most – while also preparing for a quick increase to testing capacity as required (and in step with provincial direction).
Along with pop-up support on COVID-19 testing in such communities as Alderville First Nation and at a range of long-term-care and retirement homes, dedicated assessment and testing services have been consistently offered at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg and at the Trent Hills COVID-19 Testing Centre in Campbellford. Next week, a third dedicated site – focused primarily on service for those without symptoms – will operate Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Port Hope Community Hub (the former Canton municipal hall) at 5325 County Rd. 10.
“The specific aim of the Canton COVID-19 Testing Centre is to provide another local option for those without active symptoms, such as those who require a test because they wish to visit a loved one in an area long-term-care home, or those who may have been exposed in a work or school setting,” OHT-N spokesperson (and Northumberland Hills Hospital president and chief executive officer) Linda Davis said in the announcement.
“This new service in Canton will provide another option for these people, thereby adding capacity at our existing sites to cater to those with COVID-19 or other respiratory-like symptoms. On behalf of the OHT-N members, I thank the Municipality of Port Hope for their support in this work.”
Port Hope Mayor (and Northumberland County Warden) Bob Sanderson cited the move as a shining example of community collaboration and shared resources.
“We are proud to participate in this proactive approach alongside OHT-N,” Sanderson declared.
“This partnership streamlines the testing process, will allow more people to get tested, and will hopefully result in shorter wait time at the centres. I commend the OHT-N and their team for the careful planning and delivery of these services amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Like the centres in Cobourg and Campbellford, the Canton centre will see patients by appointment only. Appointments will be co-ordinated through the existing Cobourg line at 905-377-7783. This model will allow OHT-N partners to prioritize those who most require assessment and testing (based on the latest provincial eligibility criteria), align bookings with patient needs (including geographic location) and better managing physical distancing at all three sites.
Services continue as before in Cobourg and Campbellford, with patients who need to see a physician or nurse-practitioner booked for appointments at the NHH site. In an effort to free up much-needed space within the hospital's emergency department – where it is currently located – and minimize traffic in and out of the hospital, NHH is transitioning its COVID-19 Assessment Centre to the new self-enclosed trailer that has been set up on the lawn just in front of the emergency department entrance. Otherwise, no change to services is anticipated, and signage will direct patients accordingly.
The decision to focus the new service in Canton to serve those without symptoms is intended to support:
Pre-operative patients who require a negative COVID-19 test prior to receiving a surgical procedure.
Caregivers or visitors to long-term-care residents.
Individuals with employment-related or public health-directed testing needs.
Other general testing that does not require the specific services of a full assessment centre.
Centres serving those with COVID-19 symptoms (as set out on the province's COVID-19 website) are also designed to serve those who:
Have been notified by public health or the COVID Alert app that they have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus.
Have been notified by public health that they are a resident or worker in a setting that has a COVID-10 outbreak.
Have had a school health nurse, public health or primary care provider (family physician or nurse-practitioner) tell them to be tested.
Are eligible for testing as part of a targeted Ministry of Health testing initiative.
Live or work in a setting considered at-risk for COVID-19, such as a long-term-care home.
Will be visiting a long-term-care home.
Hours of operations at these sites (daily from 8 .am. to 4 p.m. in Cobourg, Monday through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Campbellford) may be adjusted if the need arises.
OHT-N partners continue to be prepared to implement mobile pop-up services swiftly for specific institutional or community sites as required, with support from Northumberland County's Community Paramedicine program.
They also remind everyone that precautionary measures are the best way to restrict the spread of COVID-19, and offer some tips.
Maintain physical distancing. This would be a minimum of two metres (six feet) from other people outside of your immediate household to deny the virus a chance to spread.
Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible (or required).
Practice good hand hygiene. Clean hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth unless you have just washed your hands.
Limit your social circle. Keep up with the latest provincial requirements and recommendations on limiting contact outside your immediate household.
Download the COVID Alert app. It gives you a phone alert if you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and lets others know if you test positive without sharing any personal information. This is available at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covidalert.
