Ottawa expands COVID-19 testing with do-it-yourself option for parents
Ottawa's COVID-19 testing centres are extending hours and CHEO is now offering parents a do-it-yourself testing kit for children as demand for testing spikes this fall.
Parents have been complaining about a lack of available appointments to get a COVID-19 test immediately, with some waiting up to two days for an available appointment.
The COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre and Kids Come First Care Clinic at Brewer Park Arena has administered 450 to 500 tests a day this week.
CHEO announced on Twitter that it now offers a do-it-yourself test kit, available for children ages two months to 18 years-old.
"The swab is gentle and easy to do," said CHEO on Twitter.
Parents can choose a date and time to pick-up the kit from the CHEO Assessment Centre at Brewer Arena.
Earlier this week, medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches said the Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Taskforce is looking at several options to boost testing capacity, especially for children.
The CHEO Assessment Centre at Brewer Park Arena is working to have 450-to-500 in-person testing slots available each day.
A temporary COVID-19 Assessment Centre is now open at McNabb Arena until at least Sept. 29 for COVID-19 testing for residents six months of age and older. You can book an appointment through the Ottawa Public Health website.
The Moodie COVID-19 Care and Testing Centre will be open on Saturday, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The Ray Friel COVID-19 Care and Testing Centre will also be open for COVID-19 testing this Sunday, Sept. 26 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The Ottawa Public Health website outlines the instructions for the pick-up Do-It-Yourself COVID-19 Test Kit at the CHEO Clinic:
- Appointments can only be booked for children and youth over two months of age and under 18 years old.
- You will receive a kit with supplies, instructions and a sample registration form for you and your child to complete in the car or at home, and then drop off at the assessment centre.
A note on the website says, "We have a very limited number of walk-up appointments available to get kits. These are meant for people who don’t have access to the online booking system."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.