The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), in partnership with the Glengarry Memorial Hospital and SDG Cornwall Paramedic Services, is opening a new COVID-19 assessment centre in Alexandria on June 30, 2020. The centre will be located at 62 Anik Street, and will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week, by appointment only. To book an appointment, please call the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120. Visitors to the centre are asked to wear a mask or face covering.

“We’re pleased to be opening the new Alexandria centre, as it will further broaden access to COVID-19 testing for our region’s residents,” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health. The additional assessment site will increase the EOHU’s capacity to identify cases so it can move quickly to isolate them and follow up with their contacts. “This is very important as we continue to open up more sectors of the economy, to protect our residents and keep the curve of COVID-19 infection as flat as possible in our region.”

Anyone who has symptoms related to COVID-19, or who thinks they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, can be tested at any of the 6 assessment centres in the EOHU region, including the Alexandria centre. A mobile testing clinic is also available in Akwesasne for residents of that area. For locations, hours and other details visit the EOHU’s website at www.EOHU.ca. A full list of COVID-19 symptoms is available at covid-19.ontario.ca.

Important to continue taking precautions

The EOHU is reminding residents that precautionary measures remain essential for protecting the general public, including the most vulnerable, like seniors and people with pre-existing health conditions.

“I’m still urging everyone to take precautions and to limit non-essential outings,” states Dr. Roumeliotis. “Besides protecting your family, it will help ensure that we don’t experience a spike in cases that would force us to slow down the phased re-opening of the economy.”

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the EOHU recommends that you:

• Continue to limit non-essential outings, and when you do go out, stay at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from others.
• Wear a non-medical face mask when physical distancing isn’t possible during outings.
• Clean your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just cleaned your hands.
• Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, not into your hand.
• If you’re not feeling well, stay at home unless you need to seek medical care or to be tested for COVID-19.

For more information about COVID-19, please consult EOHU.ca/coronavirus and Ontario’s website at covid-19.ontario.ca.