In order to make COVID-19 Assessment Centre services more accessible and convenient, the hours of operation at the Oakridge Arena site will be changing next week. Starting Monday, June 8, the Oakridge Arena COVID-19 Assessment Centre will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The hours of operation at the Assessment Centre located at the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre will remain unchanged, with the facility open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., seven days a week.

The COVID-19 Assessment Centres, operated by the London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, the Thames Valley Family Health Team, the Middlesex-London EMS, the Middlesex-London Health Unit and the City of London, have seen thousands of patients over the course of the pandemic, reducing the number of visits to local Emergency Departments and the Urgent Care Centre significantly.

Anyone may attend either of the two London Assessment Centres to be accessed for COVID-19 testing. While tests will be conducted based on clinical criteria, people who do not show symptoms of the novel coronavirus but are concerned they may have been exposed to a positive case or believe they may already be ill will be tested. There will be no medication or treatment onsite at the COVID-19 Assessment Centres.

While COVID-19 is a virus that affects the respiratory system, anyone who has severe respiratory illness, or is experiencing a medical emergency should go to hospital or call 9-1-1.

Signs of severe respiratory illness include:

• Shortness of breath/unable to catch your breath
• Severe fever that does not come down with Tylenol/acetaminophen
• Energy so low that you are physically unable to get out of bed or barely able and must rest again immediately

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-617-0570

Spokesperson:
Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit