Skip to main content

Temporary COVID-19 testing clinic opening at McNabb Arena this weekend as testing demand increases

A COVID-19 assessment centre in Ottawa, Ont. (Colton Praill / CTV News Ottawa) A COVID-19 assessment centre in Ottawa, Ont. (Colton Praill / CTV News Ottawa)
Share
OTTAWA -

A temporary COVID-19 testing clinic will open at the McNabb Arena this weekend, as Ottawa parents complain about a lack of children testing appointments in Ottawa.

Friday morning, one parent said on Twitter that their kids have COVID symptoms, but the earliest testing appointment available is 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the CHEO Assessment Centre at Brewer Arena.

As of 3:30 p.m. Friday, the earliest appointment available at the CHEO Community Assessment Clinic at Brewer Arena was Sunday morning. There were 34 time slots available for appointments.

The COVID-19 Drive-Thru Assessment Centre on Coventry Road offers testing for residents 10 and older.  Appointments are still available on Saturday and Sunday.

In a statement on Twitter, Ottawa Public Health said, "Our partners who manage COVID testing are working to increase their capacity to meet testing demand."

A temporary pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the McNabb Arena at 180 Percy Street.  COVID-19 testing will be available for anyone over the age of six months old.

It's a drop-in COVID-19 testing centre, and no appointments are needed.

The clinic will be open:

  • Saturday, Sept. 18: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept 19: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Monday Sept, 20: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

COVID-19 testing for children over the age of six months old is also available at both the COVID-19 care and test centre on Moodie Drive and the COVID-19 care and testing centre on Tenth Line Road at the Ray Friel Centre. Both centres are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Taskforce has reported 2,000 tests were performed each day on Sept. 14 and Sept. 15.  A total of 1,948 tests were performed on September 13.

By comparison, 1,236 swabs were processed at clinics on Sept. 1.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA

Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.

Stay Connected