Sudbury's official COVID-19 testing centre is moving.
The Health Sciences North (HSN) COVID test centre that had been on Regent Street for the past two and half years, is moving to its new location at the Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI) building, at 56 Walford Road.
The previous venue on Regent Street was a larger building that allowed for drive-through convenience where patients could be tested from inside their vehicles. It opened in November of 2020.
HSN personnel carried out PCR testing (polymerase chain reaction) as it was regarded as the gold standard test for determining whether a person had become infected with the COVID-19 virus.
As per provincial testing guidelines, PCR testing through HSN’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre is recommended for any symptomatic individual who is at a higher risk of severe illness and may benefit from available COVID‐19 treatments," said a news release from HSN
“We will continue to offer PCR testing, clinical assessments, and outpatient treatments for COVID-19 in our new location,” said Nicole Sykes, Manager, Trauma Services & Centre for Pre-Hospital Care.
She said the assessment process will let HSN determine the best options for any patient that presents with serious COVID symptoms.
“Through assessment, we can determine which available treatment route is best suited to each individual, either with prescriptions for medicines or by providing intravenous infusions for the early treatment of COVID-19 at our location. These therapies may help reduce
the risk of developing more severe COVID-19 symptoms that could require hospitalization.”
HSN said the risk of developing more serious illness continues, especially for patients who have underlying health problems or those whose last COVID-19 immunization was longer than six months ago. The hospital said such individuals should contact the COVID-19 assessment centre as soon as they develop symptoms.
These individuals should contact the HSN COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Centre as soon as they develop symptoms. If an individual has already tested positive on a home rapid test, they should contact their primary care provider, their community pharmacy or the COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Centre as soon as possible.
The process of booking an appointment for COVID-19 assessment remains the same and is available by appointment only through the COVID-19 Online Booking System.
Anyone unable to use the online booking system can book an appointment over the phone by calling 705-671- 7373. Phones are answered 7 days per week, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 pm.
