More COVID-19 mobile testing clinics planned across region

After hundreds of residents attended mobile testing clinics in Wallaceburg, the Chatham-kent Health Alliance and partners are now expanding them to other communities throughout July.

The Tilbury clinics will be held at Tilbury Arena on July 9 and 10, Blenheim will have its clinics July 16 and 17 at Blenheim Memorial Arena and Thamesville Area Public School will host clinics July 23 and July 24. All will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Anyone who believes they may require a COVID-19 swab test can go to one of the clinics. Over three days — June 11-13 — 436 residents were swabbed at a drive-thru clinic in Wallaceburg.

The initiative is being run in partnership with Chatham-kent Emergency Medical Services, CK Public Health and the Chatham-kent, Thamesview and Tilbury health teams.

The clinics take place in the parking lot of each site and no appointment is required. Signage will direct both those who arrive in a vehicle and those who do not. Staff members will register individuals while they are in their vehicles.

The health-care team will perform the tests while people are in their cars. Patients will be sent home with information on self-isolation and how to view their results online.

CK Public Health will call all patients, whether or not they test positive.

Lori Marshall, president and CEO of the health alliance, said she is glad more communities will have this option.

“Since the pandemic was declared, our highly collaborative partnerships within the local health system have ensured that we remain vigilant in protecting our vulnerable populations and the wider community,” she said.

“Being able to provide testing throughout the municipality helps us achieve our objective of providing equitable access to care for our residents,” added Donald Maclellan, EMS general manager.

Dr. David Colby, Chatham-kent’s medical officer of health, said it was important to roll this out to other communities after the “success” in Wallaceburg.

“By bringing more mobile clinics, more residents in our community will have access to testing who may not be able to get to Chatham as easily,” he said.

Kelly Griffiths, executive director of the Tilbury District Family Health Team, said these mobile testing clinics are “welcomed and needed.”

Additional clinics for Wheatley and Dresden are being planned. They will be announced once details are confirmed