Anyone experiencing symptoms can now get tested for COVID-19

WATERLOO REGION — Anyone in Waterloo Region who thinks they may have COVID-19 can now get tested if they want.

“All residents with symptoms will be eligible for testing,” said acting medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang.

“Now there are no more priority groups.”

People will be able to call and book an appointment at the testing centres located at Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener.

No referral from a doctor will be needed.

Wang said testing of all longterm care homes in the region is done, which means public health’s partners are able to handle more testing for people in the general public who are sick.

“Our testing partners now have the capacity to test more residents,” she said during the regional briefing on Friday when testing eligibility expanded.

As well, she said the province has increased lab capacity across Ontario and is eager to see more testing done.

Wang hopes people take advantage of the new option, knowing that previously many people who wanted to be tested could not because they weren’t in a priority group or needing hospitalization.

“Ultimately, it is the goal of all testing partners and public health to see more people tested. We want everyone who qualifies for testing to take advantage of that testing,” she said.

The region has five testing sites: three in the local hospitals and two community assessment centres in Cambridge and Waterloo. Two will now take calls directly from residents to book an appointment , while three will continue for now to require a referral from a care provider.

People can also use a new local self-assessment tool at covid19checkup.ca that can connect them to a doctor for a virtual appointment and testing if needed.

Wang thanked public health’s clinical partners for making it possible to open testing to anyone who may be sick with COVID-19.

“They have been working tirelessly to make this expansion possible,” she said.

While local testing numbers have increased significantly over the past several weeks, Wang wanted to stress the effectiveness of public health measures.

“Testing is a monitoring tool that allows us to identify the virus is on our community and manage positive cases accordingly,” Wang said. “But it does not prevent the virus. It is critical that everyone continue to practise public health measures, especially as we head into the long weekend and more places begin to reopen.”

She said people don’t have to stay home, but they should continue to spend time with household contacts only and keep two metres away from everyone else. She also recommends wearing a non-medical face mask or covering if that distance cannot be maintained, “which is likely to be increasingly the case as there are more people outside because restrictions have been lifted.”

No new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Friday’s update.

A total of 108 people have died. The majority of deaths — 81 per cent — are outbreak related. Total confirmed cases reached 983, up 10 from the previous day. Of the local cases, 559 are resolved and 43 are hospitalized.

Outbreaks at long-term care and retirement homes remained at 11.

A total of 10,770 tests have been done in the region.