COVID-19 Testing Information

 (September 20, 2020) Note: Today’s drive-thru COVID-19 mobile testing site at the Canadian Tire Centre is a collaborative effort by Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ontario Health, the Ottawa Senators and paramedics from across Eastern Ontario. The mobile testing centre is open today from 9 am to 6 pm. For more information, please visit the Ottawa Senators website.

Last revised - September 20, 2020

On this page:

Testing criteria and recommendations

• COVID-19 symptoms

COVID-19 Care Clinics

• Location and hours

COVID-19 Assessment Centre

• Location and hours

COVID-19 Drive-thru Assessment Centre

• Location and hours

Frequently asked questions

Testing criteria and recommendations

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.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please continue to self-isolate, follow the self-isolation instructions, and do not leave your place of isolation unless it is to go for testing or to seek medical care.

COVID-19 symptoms

Recommendations for testing include:

• Symptomatic persons:

  • Anyone showing signs and symptoms of COVID-19

• Asymptomatic (not showing symptoms) persons with close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 positive case:
  • No earlier than 5 days after initial close contact* with a confirmed case
  • Timing of testing is important as a person may be incubating (the time it takes for the disease to develop) and COVID-19 may not show on the test result if tested too early.
  • Even if after waiting 5 days to be tested the result is negative, it remains important to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days from exposure to the confirmed case. You will be helping to protect others because COVID-19 can develop up to 14 days after exposure even if you receive a negative test result.

NOTE:  Testing is recommended right away anytime a close contact* develops symptoms. Do not wait 5 days to be tested if you develop symptoms and are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.

*A close contact is someone with a high-risk exposure to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19.

Use the self-assessment tool to help determine how to seek further care.

• Only the individuals in a family who have symptoms or have been identified as a close contact or exposed to COVID-19, need to come for initial testing. If they are found to be positive then their household and family contacts need to be tested 5 days later.
• Visiting elderly or ill family members:

• Testing is no longer required prior to visiting outdoors with residents of Retirement Homes or Long-Term Care Facilities; maintain physical distancing and consider wearing a mask even though it is outdoors
• Testing is not required for visiting elderly or ill family members at their own homes; maintain physical distancing and wear a mask

It is important to note that testing does not prevent individuals from contracting the virus or becoming infectious between the time they are tested and when visiting their loved ones. Testing also does not tell you if you were already infected at the time of the test but were still incubating and not shedding enough virus for the test to detect.

Beat the Heat - Bring water, sunscreen, an umbrella and a chair when going for testing

Note: Certain populations will be tested at their location including:

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

If an Ottawa resident thinks they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, even if they are not showing symptoms, they can go for testing at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre or Covid-19 Care Clinics. People will be moved up in line only if they are showing signs of illness or weakness.

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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. The clinics are run by local hospitals in partnership with the City of Ottawa, primary care physicians, community pediatricians, the regional COVID-19 planning team and Ottawa Public Health. They are equipped to do basic diagnostic tests, such as chest X-rays and lab tests.   The Care Clinic will help people get treatment they require for respiratory illness, while helping keep Emergency Departments available for other emergencies.

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

COVID-19 Assessment Centre

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.

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

The Champlain COVID-19 Response Committee (CCRC) and Ottawa Public Health (OPH) are working together to implement the Ontario Ministry of Health’s policies on testing priorities across Ottawa.

The CCRC staffs, operates and manages the Assessment Centre at Brewer Park Arena and the two (2) COVID-19 Care Clinics (Moodie and Heron locations) through local hospitals.

Protecting Ontarians through Enhanced Testing outlines the Province’s testing plan. Questions related to this provincial strategy can be submitted through an online form.

For more details about the services provided and what to expect/prepare for, see below:

• These facilities are experiencing a significant increase in volume, resulting in longer wait times.
• Depending on the time of day, the wait could be 2 – 4 hours.
• Expect to wait outdoors for a period of time: consider bringing water, sunscreen, and a chair or umbrella if needed to help you beat the heat.
• You will be asked to wear a face mask and physically distance, both in line and within the testing facility.
• Staff and physicians regularly walk the line and check for vulnerable patients and may move them forward to prioritize their visit.
• Swabbing results are usually available from the laboratory within an average of 1-2 days, however, it could extend as long as 3 – 5 days due to circumstances beyond our control. You will be given a link to go online to check your results and will receive a phone call if you test positive.
• Children over 6 months of age can be assessed and tested for COVID-19 at The Assessment Centre . Children under 6 months of age need to be taken to CHEO. Children over 2 years of age can be assessed and tested at the Care Clinics. 

Resources

• Tested for COVID-19, What Now Handout
• Self-Isolation handouts in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Inuktitut 

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COVID-19 Drive-thru Assessment Centre

The COVID-19 drive-thru Assessment Centre on Coventry Rd. is an out-of-hospital testing site where people with pre-booked appointments can get tested by a health-care provider from their cars. It is operated by The Ottawa Hospital, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health and the City of Ottawa.

The Drive-thru Assessment Centre on Coventry Rd. is available by appointment only.

Please read the following important information before booking your appointment 

Important information about booking an appointment:

• This is a drive-through location. You must have a vehicle to attend your appointment.
• Walk-ins will not be accepted. An appointment must be booked in advance.
• Please ensure the information you are providing is correct before booking your appointment.
• Minors under the age of 14 will not be tested at this location.
•  Each individual in the vehicle must book an appointment on the same day using their own personal information for their appointment slot. A maximum of four people per vehicle can be tested.
• Vehicles must be no taller than 7.5 feet to fit in the covered testing area.

Important information about attending your appointment:

• Ensure vehicles are turned off when directed to do so by health care providers.
• The drive-through testing site on Coventry Rd. is available by appointment only. If you do not have an appointment, you will be directed to another testing centre.
• Please ensure all members in the vehicle being tested bring and produce an Ontario health card on request. If you do not have a valid health card, you will be directed to another testing centre.
• All passengers must wear a mask.
• Please show up as close as possible to your scheduled appointment time.
• All passengers must remain in the vehicle at all times.
• Inappropriate language or behaviour will not be tolerated and will result in declined testing.
• Please drive with extra caution and follow all posted signage while attending your appointment. The safety of you, and the health care providers, is our highest priority.
• For the safety of our patients and staff, no motorcycles, scooters or bicycles will be permitted.

Book your appointment 

Frequently asked questions about the Drive-thru Assessment Centre