The North Bay Regional Health Centre’s (NBRHC) COVID-19 assessment centre is moving forward with Premier Doug Ford’s wishes of testing anyone who wants to be tested.
“If you want to be tested, just go up to the assessment centre at the hospital,” Mayor Al McDonald said. “You don’t go in the hospital. You can call ahead or just drive-in, [around the side of the building] they’re there for you. Anybody that feels that they need the test, we encourage you to get the test. We want people to get the test, just go up.”
“We want to remind our community that we are here for them,” says Dr. Ian Cowan, Medical Director of COVID-19 Assessment Centre on the NBRHC website. “Our assessment centre is here to test anyone with concerns about COVID-19 exposure or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.”
According to McDonald, you don’t have to show symptoms to be tested.
“There are people worried and they’re scared,” McDonald explained. “You don’t have to have symptoms, just go up to the assessment centre. I know some people are nervous about going into the hospital, but you don’t need to go into it as the centre is beside the hospital.”
As of Monday, there are 25 positive cases in the area, with 20 listed as resolved and one death. There have been 5,708 tests conducted, which McDonald says is above the provincial average.
“What happens is people see North Bay has done 5,700, but Sudbury has done 8,000,” he said. “You’re dealing with a different population base. I am proud of our hospital, they have done a great job.”
The assessment centre is open seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
