THUNDER BAY – COVID-19 testing at Thunder Bay Regional is being limited to those experiencing symptoms, vulnerable populations and contacts of known cases.
The move, announced on Thursday, comes at the behest of the provincial government, which released new testing guidelines in the wake of long lines and delays across Ontario. In Thunder Bay, the wait to get a test is more than a week.
“The health and safety of all patients, staff, professional staff, care partners and the community is our utmost priority,” said Dr. Zaki Ahmed, chief of staff and medical specialist for the hospital’s COVID-19 response, in a release issued to local media.
“Appropriate testing for COVID-19 is an important aspect to limiting the spread of infection by allowing for the rapid identification and follow-up of individuals who have COVID-19. Based on the current status of the pandemic, limiting testing to only those who are experiencing symptoms or who have had exposure to a known case is a necessary adjustment in order to reduce the backlog of testing and wait times that are currently being experienced across the province, including our hospital.”
The Regional Health Sciences Centre’s emergency department will also no longer provide COVID-19 swab testing for patients who do not require admission for respiratory or other illnesses indicating the need for COVID-19 assessment.
As a result, the general public is being asked not to present themselves at the emergency department as an alternative testing site to the assessment centre.
Anyone needing to schedule a COVID-19 test is asked to phone the assessment centre at 935-8100.
Anyone with questions about the coronavirus can contact the Thunder Bay District Health Unit at 625-5900 or toll-free at 1-888-294-6630.
Until Thursday anyone wanting a COVID-19 test was able to schedule one.
