Ottawa parents scramble for COVID-19 testing appointments
With parents scrambling to find COVID-19 testing appointments for their children in the capital this weekend, Ottawa's COVID-19 Testing Taskforce says more appointments for children will open up at the Brewer Arena as staffing levels increase.
The taskforce overseeing COVID-19 testing in the capital says it is working to secure the staffing and resources needed to "rapidly expand and meet the increasing testing demands", including other testing options.
A long line with a two-hour wait was reported at a new pop-up COVID-19 Testing Clinic set up at the McNabb Arena on Percy Street Saturday afternoon.
"Every other testing option, you had appointments and it wasn't until like three-four days from now, that's a little too late," said Jason Perrier.
Parents tell CTV News Ottawa they were waiting to get COVID-19 tests for their young children, so they can return to the classroom.
"Everyone is doing their best, but the idea that they close the testing centres on weekends and only doing pop-ups the first week back to school - It seems counterproductive to me," said Samantha Franklin.
Ottawa Public Health announced the walk-in clinic at the McNabb Arena would be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday to provide another testing option.
Parents have also complained about a lack of same day appointments for testing at the CHEO Assessment Centre at Brewer Arena. On Friday morning, one parent said the earliest appointment for a COVID-19 test at the CHEO Assessment Centre at Brewer Arena was Sunday morning.
As of 3 p.m. Saturday, the earliest appointment for a COVID-19 test at the CHEO Assessment Centre was Monday afternoon. Both the COVID-19 testing facility for adults at Brewer Arena and the COVID-19 Drive-Thru Clinic at the Ottawa Baseball Stadium have appointments available on Sunday.
The Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Taskforce says approximately 100 new appointments were opened up on Friday at the Brewer Arena.
"CHEO Brewer handles approximately 400 tests per day and have opened an additional 80 spots for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday morning," said the Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Taskforce in a statement to CTV News Ottawa late Friday afternoon.
"Slots open up as they can once staffing is secured or as people cancel their appointments. To avoid delays, we encourage those who are seeking testing to check frequently for updated times."
Ottawa's COVID-19 assessment centres and care clinics have a capacity to test about 2,000 people each weekday, with fewer tests performed on weekends.
The CHEO Assessment Centre and Kids Come First Care Clinic at Brewer Arena is open for children ages two months to 18 years old. The COVID-19 care and testing centres on Moodie Drive and at the Ray Friel Centre offer testing to anyone over six months old Monday to Friday. The COVID-19 Drive-Thru Assessment Centre at the Ottawa Baseball Stadium on Coventry Road offers testing for anyone 10 and older.
Testing for children older than six months is also available at the Centretown Community Health Centre and the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre.
"We want to thank the community for their patience as we work to secure the staffing and resources needed to rapidly expand and meet the increasing testing demands," said the Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Taskforce.
"As the demand for testing services has been increasing, we continue to successfully provide ongoing testing services across Ottawa. Assessment centres have extended hours of operation, test results are being received within 48 hours and testing options are being explored."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.