COVID-19 testing for all in Windsor, Essex County
Premier encourages Ontarians to go, even without any symptoms
Anyone in Windsor and Essex County seeking to be tested for COVID-19 can now do so.
Windsor Regional Hospital is encouraging anyone wanting to be tested for the virus to come to the assessment centre at the Ouellette Campus next to the emergency department. The centre is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Sunday that the opportunity to be tested for the virus is now available to everyone in the province.
“You will not be turned away, even if you or your family don’t have symptoms,” Ford said Sunday. “If you feel you need a test, you will be able to get a test.”
At first, testing was based on specific guidelines, but has expanded in recent weeks as the province aims to complete 16,000 tests daily.
In the first hours without restrictions on Monday, a long line of people — many without any COVID -19 symptoms — waited outside the downtown assessment centre for the uncomfortable nasal swab.
“I think everyone should do it, definitely,” Windsor resident Günther Wolf told the Star from his place in line, physically distanced from the roughly 40 people waiting in line with him.
Wolf who has no symptoms of the virus and self-isolated for 14 days after returning from Florida a month before, said, “It’s stupid if you don’t do something. What bugs me the most is when people don’t care about others.”
Windsor Regional Hospital said on Sunday it has swabbed 3,873 people out of 4,514 individuals at the assessment centre, which is a testing rate of 86 per cent.
Ontario reported 404 new cases Monday, which marked the fifth straight day the total has eclipsed 400. Sunday’s total was the highest reported in the province since May 8.
“With the premier’s declaration Sunday morning, there should no longer be any confusion — if you want a test, you can get a test,” Windsor Regional Hospital president and chief executive officer David Musyj said in a release. “We have often said you really don’t know what you don’t know.
“In other words, you can’t get control of this pandemic unless you test as many people as possible and have a better picture of how many people have tested positive, then do aggressive contact tracing to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
Those interested in a test do not need a referral from Telehealth Ontario, primary care or the health unit to be tested, and parking is free.
Those who visit the assessment centre can also receive a primary care examination for any symptoms they may be struggling with that could require medical attention.
“Our hope is that this gives additional incentive for individuals to seek not only tests but also medical care in a clinic-like setting, while possibly avoiding having to attend another clinic or placing pressure in our emergency department,” Windsor Regional Hospital chief of staff Dr. Wassim Saad said in a release.
Harrow residents Bill Donnelly, 73, and Connie Donnelly, 70, had been waiting in line outside the hospital to be tested for about an hour at 11:30 a.m. on Monday. Like those around them, they wore masks and stood on red tape marking an appropriate physical distance from the people before and after them in the queue.
“I wanted to make sure I don’t have it, make sure I’m not asymptomatic,” said Bill Donnelly.
He said he has underlying health conditions and is at a higher risk of severe complications — including death — if he becomes infected.
“I’m one of those lucky people who never seems to get sick,” he said. “I don’t get colds, I don’t get the flu, though we do get the flu shot. I could be asymptomatic and not know it. I don’t want to spread it, so it’s worth checking it out.”
In addition to the assessment centre in downtown Windsor, individuals can also seek testing for COVID-19 at the assessment centre at Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington. The Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (1405 Tecumseh Rd. W.) also offers testing for First Nations, Metis and Inuit people and their families.
Late Monday afternoon, Windsor Regional Hospital tweeted that staff had seen 163 people for test swabs at their assessment centre, beating the previous high of 103 on March 18, the third day the centre was open. The average number of tests has been 65 a day.