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More getting COVID tests, but wait times for test and results have increased

The province is ramping up lab capacity to get results quicker and local changes are being made so people aren't waiting as long to get their test
20200911 covid testing centre ts
Guelph's COVID testing clinic opened at its new location Friday at 400 Southgate Dr. Tony Saxon/GuelphToday photo

The good news is more people are going to get tested for COVID-19. The bad news is that, at least for the short term, it’s taking longer to get that test and also get the results.

Ross Kirkconnell, executive director of the Family Health Team that coordinates the Guelph COVID Assessment Centre on Southgate Drive, said there has been a big upswing in the number of people going to get tested the last two weeks.

“We are seeing on average 500 per day on weekdays and 250 to 300 on weekends (when the hours of operation are shorter). So yes, the number of people seeking COVID assessment has dramatically increased in the last two weeks, close to double that of a month ago,” Kirkconnell said.

He said wait times at the assessment centre are between one and two hours most of the time but that some changes into place to speed up processes and reduce wait times.

“This will be even more important if numbers continue to increase,” he said.

Occasionally those arriving later and at the back of the line are advised they likely won’t get in and to come back the next day.

“This has happened but we are trying our best not to turn people away,” he said.

While most people coming to the assessment centre are from the Guelph area, there have had increased numbers lately from neighbouring regions.

Kirkconnell said while people are advised to go to testing centres in their own region, no one is turned away from getting tested. 

“People have been great and we thank them for it. We are doing our best to be as responsive as we can be and, as I said, are changing processes and staffing to see as many people as we can as quickly as possible.”

Not only is it taking longer to get the test done, it is also taking longer to get the results.

Rita Isley, chief nursing officer and director of community health and wellness at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health said it’s taking four to 10 days to get results, positive or negative.

“We tend to see our positive results more quickly, but it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to take a bit longer,” she said.

People are notified by phone if their test was positive, negative tests are given via an online portal.

Isley said in March there were only 2,000 tests being done per day. Right now that number is at 25,000 tests per day and the province has said it plans on ramping that figure up to 50,000 per day.

She said there is no shortage of test kits.

Guelph’s tests are done at a variety of labs throughout Southern Ontario.

“They will move the labs to where they have capacity to do (the test) so they can get done as fast as possible,” Isley said.

“There’s going to be more testing set up … they’re always looking for quicker, more efficient, more effective turnarounds for various tests. I expect testing will continue to evolve as we learn other strategies for testing but also as we develop other testing methodology.”

Anyone exhibiting any symptoms or who has been exposed to someone who has tested positive is asked to get tested and self-isolate until they get the results.

Guelph’s testing centre at 400 Southgate Dr. is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

To date, 34,378 people have been tested at the centre.


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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