Need to get tested for COVID-19? Here are the changes coming to assessment centres

As of Monday, Oct. 5, changes are coming to how London's two COVID-19 testing sites operate.

One of the biggest changes is that Londoners who meet certain criteria will be able to book an appointment at the Oakridge Arena assessment centre and avoid hours of long lineups on site.

Who can book an appointment at Oakridge Arena? 

• Symptomatic children under 12.
• Symptomatic essential health care workers.
• Asymptomatic people who are:  
  • Residents, workers, visitors or caregivers to a retirement home or long-term care facility. 
  • International students who have passed their 14-day quarantine period.
  • Farm workers.
  • From Indigenous communities.
  • From other setting-specific populations as defined by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

To book an appointment, people can leave a message at 519-667-6886 and staff will call back within two business days. 

"Based on the call volumes that other booked assessment centres are seeing, we are being cautious on making firm promises on just how fast we can turn around those appointments," said Mike McMahon, the executive director of Thames Valley Family Health which runs the city's assessment centres.

"The goal, especially because these folks will be symptomatic, is to have them seen in a period of time that addresses the fact that they are feeling unwell."

The assessment centre at Oakridge Arena will be open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Who can get tested at Carling Heights? 

The change makes Carling Heights the only assessment centre accepting walk-ins. The timecard system, in which estimated appointment slots are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis, will remain in place.  

Here's who will be prioritized at the Carling Heights site: 

• Patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
• People who have been notified by Public Health or the COVID-19 Alert App. 
• People who live or work in a setting that has had an outbreak identified by public health.
• People who are eligible for testing as determined by the Ministry of Health or Long Term Care.

The Carling Heights site will be extending it's hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., all week long.

But, the longer hours don't mean more tests will be completed. 

Currently, McMahon said, both assessment centres aim to test 400 people each day and while they are working to increase capacity, he said they have to be mindful of what the laboratories who process the tests can handle. 

"We're trying to manage that daily flow in a way that is along the step of our provincial lab partners," he said.  

Since September, centres have been reaching capacity far in advance of closing time, forcing test-seekers to come back earlier each day in hopes of getting an appointment slot.