COVID-19 Assessment Centre and Care Clinics

Last revised - July 8, 2020

COVID-19 Care Clinics

The COVID-19 Care Clinics are out-of-hospital clinics where people will be assessed by a healthcare provider, tested, and treated for respiratory illness, if required. 

Ottawa Public Health has partnered with Queensway Carleton Hospital to open COVID-19 Care Clinics in the Moodie location, and with Hôpital Montfort in the Heron location. The clinics involve the City of Ottawa, CHEO, primary care physicians, community pediatricians, and the regional COVID-19 planning team. They are equipped to do basic diagnostic tests, such as chest X-rays and lab tests. 

You should come to the COVID-19 Care Clinics if:

• You have escalating symptoms of respiratory illness, including a fever or worsening cough and flu-like symptoms, and
• Are in need of medical attention

See the criteria for testing here.

If you are in distress (e.g., significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), do not go to the Assessment Centre or a COVID-19 Care Clinic. Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1.

Any Ottawa resident who feels they need a test, even if they are not showing symptoms, can go for testing at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre or COVID-19 Care Clinics and should not be turned away, unless volumes are significant. If volumes are significant, priority will be given to residents from high-risk groups and those showing symptoms.

• COVID-19 may have classic symptoms such as feeling feverish, new or worsening cough, and/or difficulty breathing.
• Other symptoms of COVID-19 can include: sore throat, difficulty swallowing, loss of taste/smell, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pneumonia, runny nose*, or nasal congestion* 
• *In the absence of underlying reason for these symptoms such as seasonal allergies and post-nasal drip
• COVID-19 also has less common symptoms such as unexplained fatigue/malaise, delirium (a serious medical condition that involves confusion, changes to memory, and odd behaviours), unexplained or increased number of falls, acute functional decline, worsening of chronic conditions, chills, headaches, conjunctivitis, croup, or multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children (some of the symptoms associated with multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children include persistent fever and a variety of symptoms that may include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as rash); an infected infant could also have trouble feeding.

The following list of individuals will still be assessed as priority for testing, depending on volume. 

• Healthcare workers or staff who work in health care facilities and members of their households;
• First responders such as firefighters, police, and paramedics;
• Critical infrastructure workers – this includes grocery stores, food services, maintenance and transportation workers, and utilities. (See the full list of Ontario’s essential workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.);
• Cross-border workers;
• Caregivers and care providers;
• Individuals with frequent healthcare contact such as patients with cancer or undergoing chemotherapy, dialysis therapy, pre- or post-transplant, pregnancy, and newborns;
• A close contact of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19;
• Returning international travellers;
• Members of remote, isolated, rural, and/or indigenous communities;
• Persons 60 years of age and older.

Otherwise, use the self-assessment tool to help determine how to seek further care. 

Note: Certain populations will be tested by alternate means outside of the COVID-19 Assessment Centre or COVID-19 Care Clinic including:

• Residents and staff in long-term care homes, retirement homes, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, mental health institution, hospice, emergency day care centres, and other congregate living settings. Staff should consult with their Occupational Health representative for clarification.
• Members of remote, isolated, rural, and/or indigenous communities.
• Hospitalized individuals.

The Care Clinic will help people get treatment they require for respiratory illness, while helping keep Emergency Departments for emergencies.

If you are in distress (e.g. significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 care clinics

COVID-19 Assessment Centre

The first COVID-19 Assessment Centre is now open. The COVID-19 Assessment Centre is an out-of-hospital clinic where people will be assessed by a health-care provider and tested for COVID-19 if required. It is operated by The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) and CHEO, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and the City of Ottawa.

If you are in distress (e.g., significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), do not go to the Assessment Centre or a COVID-19 Care Clinic. Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1.

Any Ottawa resident who feels they need a test, even if they are not showing symptoms, can go for testing at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre or COVID-19 Care Clinics and should not be turned away, unless volumes are significant. If volumes are significant, priority will be given to residents from high-risk groups and those showing symptoms.

• COVID-19 may have classic symptoms such as feeling feverish, new or worsening cough, and/or difficulty breathing.
• Other symptoms of COVID-19 can include: sore throat, difficulty swallowing, loss of taste/smell, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pneumonia, runny nose*, or nasal congestion*
• *In the absence of underlying reason for these symptoms such as seasonal allergies and post-nasal drip

• COVID-19 also has less common symptoms such as unexplained fatigue/malaise, delirium (a serious medical condition that involves confusion, changes to memory, and odd behaviours), unexplained or increased number of falls, acute functional decline, worsening of chronic conditions, chills, headaches, conjunctivitis, croup, or multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children (some of the symptoms associated with multisystem inflammatory vasculitis in children include persistent fever and a variety of symptoms that may include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as rash); an infected infant could also have trouble feeding.

The following list of individuals will still be assessed as priority for testing, depending on volume. 

• Healthcare workers or staff who work in health care facilities and members of their households;
• First responders such as firefighters, police, and paramedics;
• Critical infrastructure workers – this includes grocery stores, food services, maintenance and transportation workers, and utilities. (See the full list of Ontario’s essential workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.);
• Cross-border workers;
• Caregivers and care providers;
• Individuals with frequent healthcare contact such as patients with cancer or undergoing chemotherapy, dialysis therapy, pre- or post-transplant, pregnancy, and newborns;
• A close contact of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19;
• Returning international travellers;
• Members of remote, isolated, rural, and/or indigenous communities;
• Persons 60 years of age and older.

Otherwise, use the self-assessment tool to help determine how to seek further care. 

Note: Certain populations will be tested by alternate means outside of the COVID-19 Assessment Centre or COVID-19 Care Clinic including:

• Residents and staff in long-term care homes, retirement homes, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, mental health institution, hospice, emergency day care centres, and other congregate living settings. Staff should consult with their Occupational Health representative for clarification.
• Members of remote, isolated, rural, and/or indigenous communities.
• Hospitalized individuals.

Patients who meet the criteria above will be tested for COVID-19, which involves taking a sample from the throat or nose with a swab.

Important: You do NOT need to contact Ottawa Public Health before going to an assessment centre.