A second COVID-19 Assessment Centre, operated by the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), St. Joseph’s Health Care London (SJHC), the Middlesex-London Health Unit and the City of London, will open on Thursday, March 19th at 11:00 a.m. at Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre (CHOCC), located at 656 Elizabeth Street in London. Since Monday, the Oakridge Arena Assessment Centre has seen over 800 patients, which has helped to alleviate the number of visits to local Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centre. Opening a second COVID-19 Assessment Centre will increase access for residents of London and Middlesex County. Assessment Centres are intended to educate and provide further guidance as well as to triage individuals and determine the next steps in their care.

Most people who attend the Assessment Centres will not require or receive a COVID-19 test. Tests will be done based on clinical criteria. Starting tomorrow, the Carling Heights COVID-19 Assessment Centre will be open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Oakridge Arena Assessment Centre will also continue to operate seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be no medication or treatment onsite at the COVID-19 Assessment Centres.

The Health Unit and its partners recommend the following:

1. Use the Ontario Ministry of Health’s online self-assessment tool at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment
2. Call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 for a telephone assessment if you have symptoms that include fever and/or cough AND any of the following within 14 days prior to the onset of illness:
   
   - Travel outside of Canada
   - Close contact with a confirmed or probable case
   - Close contact with a person with Acute Respiratory Illness, who has been to an affected area
   
   
3. If you are not able to assess your symptoms, consider visiting the COVID-19 Assessment Centre for further information.

Anyone with severe respiratory illness, or a medical emergency should go to hospital.

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:
Elizabeth Milne, Communications Coordinator, Middlesex-London Health Unit
519-663-5317 extension 2448 or 519-617-0564

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