COVID-19 testing available at McNabb Arena as Ottawa sees increase in demand for children testing
A pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic in downtown Ottawa will remain open for another week amid increased demand for tests, especially among children.
Ottawa's COVID-19 Testing Taskforce partnered with Canadian Health Labs to open the temporary assessment centre at McNabb Arena. Last weekend, parents and children lined up for over two hours to get a COVID-19 test, with more than 600 people getting tested at the clinic.
The centre at 180 Percy St. will be open daily until next Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Individuals six months and older are eligible for testing services at the clinic.
The clinic is no longer accepting walk-ins; you'll need to book an appointment online.
Parents have complained about a lack of appointments for children and youth at the CHEO Community Assessment Clinic at Brewer Arena. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, the earliest appointment available at the CHEO Clinic is Saturday afternoon, with dozens of appointments available on Sunday.
There are appointments available on Friday at the McNabb COVID Centre.
On Tuesday, a total of 2,604 swabs were processed at assessment centres in Ottawa. There were a total of 518 tests at the CHEO Assessment Centre, and 247 tests at the McNabb Assessment Centre.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches said Wednesday that the testing partners are exploring different options to increase COVID-19 testing capacity in Ottawa.
"We have seen across all of the testing sites run by our partners that the demand is up, especially for children," said Etches.
"Our testing partners have been making adjustments to be able to meet that demand. One thing that has been put in place is more support on weekends, so there's a third party at the McNabb Centre now offering tests."
Etches adds the Montfort Hospital will be adding weekend hours at the COVID-19 Care and Testing Centre at the Ray Friel Centre.
The Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Centre is also exploring different innovations, including do-it-yourself testing at the centres and take home tests at Ottawa schools. Earlier this week, Etches told the Board of Health that approximately 127 Ottawa schools now have take-home tests for students and staff with COVID-19 symptoms.
The medical officer of health is also urging people to cancel appointments if they no longer need it or can't make it to a testing clinic.
"Sometimes we're seeing, even up to 25 per cent of the time, people aren't keeping those appointments. If people aren't able to make the appointment, we do recommend that people cancel their booking to make room for others."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.