Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) in Cobourg has opened a COVID-19 Assessment Centre effective Saturday (March 14), one day after the local health unit confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 in the region — a resident of Northumberland County who was seen at the hospital on Wednesday (March 11).
The centre, located in the Ambulatory Care Clinic area of the hospital at 1000 DePalma Drive (immediately inside the main front entrance), will be used exclusively for the purpose of COVID-19 assessments and testing.
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with hours of operation changing as needed.
The centre, which will provide assessment and testing for people of all ages, is intended for those who are displaying mild symptoms associated with COVID-19 (a fever and/or a new or worsening cough) and who have either returned from international travel or who have had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
People who are exhibiting severe symptoms associated with COVID-19 should call 911 and alert the dispatcher to the potential concern regarding COVID-19 so that responders can be appropriately prepared. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, severe symptoms requiring emergency intervention include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face.
NHH’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre will screen patients, test them for COVID-19 (if deemed appropriate), and direct patients to proceed as required. These directions may be to go home with no action required at this time, to go home on self-isolation to await a test result, or to proceed to the NHH Emergency Department for further assessment by the department’s health care team.
Walk-ins at the centre are permitted, or people may also call the centre in advance at 905-377-7783 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. if they are not sure whether they should be assessed at the centre.
