As the province starts to roll out COVID-19 assessment centres across Ontario, Grey Bruce Health Services is preparing to have them set up in Owen Sound, Hanover and Kincardine.
Gary Sims, president and CEO of Grey Bruce Health Services, says mobile buildings will be delivered at sites outside those hospitals next week and preparations will commence to have them ready to use.
If and when the mobile assessment centres become active in Owen Sound, Hanover and Kincardine is a decision to be made by the Ministry of Health, Sims notes.
“When the deputy minister or minister notifies us, we will activate that centre,” Sims says. “You will hear across the province there are centres that are activating. And that's because the minister is working with those sites based on the need of the environment and the area.”
The Ontario government announced plans Thursday to open the first COVID-19 assessment centres over the next few days, primarily in major urban areas first such as Toronto and Ottawa.
Across the province, Sims says some assessment centres will be set up in separate parts of hospitals, while others are planned in local arenas or other venues. Grey Bruce Health Services will have mobile assessment centres on-site, but outside of the hospitals, that will be staffed separately.
The assessment centres will handle people who have symptoms and are worried they have COVID-19.
“The real purpose is to move those patients outside the hospital,” Sims says. “If we were to bring those patients into the hospital we would expose people in the hospital, both front-line staff and patients. And it would clog up our systems because we still have to respond to the everyday needs of the community.”
Sims reminds the risk of contracting the new coronavirus remains very low. To date, there are no confirmed cases in Grey Bruce.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit says there is the likelihood of individual cases, and reminds outbreak prevention lies with each of us.
Public Health advises rigorous personal hygiene and practicing safe social distancing:
• wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• sneeze and cough into your sleeve, or use a tissue and discard it immediately
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• avoid contact with people who are sick
• clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• stay home if you are sick
