OTTAWA -- Ottawa Public Health has set up a "pop-up COVID-19" testing site in one of the Ottawa neighbourhoods hardest hit by the novel coronavirus.
Residents of Heron Gate are being encouraged to be tested for COVID-19 at the mobile testing site on Cedarwood Drive Thursday and Friday.
In a tweet, Councillor Jean Cloutier said, "all residents are encouraged to take this opportunity to get tested for the virus, but doing so is completely voluntary."
Ottawa Public Health says it works with the Champlain Health Region Incident Command to provide various testing options in the community, including the pop-up site at Heron Gate.
"The rate of confirmed cases, sources of infection and socio-demographic characteristics of these clusters are considered when determining recommended sites for mobile testing," OPH said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa's Christina Succi.
"It is through this surveillance data that OPH and CHIRC identify the need for mobile testing service based on which communities would benefit most from testing in their community."
The Ottawa Public Health "Snapshot of COVID-19 across Ottawa Wards" report issued every two weeks shows Alta Vista has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases in Ottawa.
The report issued on July 7 showed there were 207 cases per 100,000 people in the Alta Vista ward.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Vera Etches has said Ottawa Public Health and its partners have been looking for ways to expand testing beyond the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Brewer Arena and the two COVID-19 care clinics.
A mobile COVID-19 testing centre was set up in Ogilvie North Park on July 11.
