Hospital closing COVID-19 test centre

Peterborough Regional Health Centre is closing its COVID-19 assessment centre on March 31, three years after it opened, with officials saying it is no longer necessary due to declining patient volumes and a shift from acute crisis management.

The hospital’s assessment centre opened in April 2020 to respond to the community’s need for COVID assessment and testing. The centre has provided safe and timely access to PCR testing, clinical assessments by nurses, paramedics and physicians and treatment for COVID for eligible patients.

In December, the clinic expanded its services to provide assessment, testing and treatment for patients with respiratory symptoms, including COVID, cold and flu.

“The work done to launch and operate PRHC’s COVID, cold, and flu clinic over the last three years represents a truly community effort, with a number of health-care partners coming together to make this service possible for patients,” chief of staff Dr. Lynn Mikula stated in a press release.

The hospital has a COVID-19 outbreak on Unit A5. Thirteen admitted patients had the virus as of Wednesday.

The hospital continues to recommend staying current with COVID vaccines to protect against severe illness.

The health unit is relocating its COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic from Peterborough Square to the health unit offices at Jackson Square on King Street next month.

In the meantime, the GO Vaxx mobile bus clinic was at Trent University on Thursday and will be at The Ranch Restaurant at 7810 Highway 7 in Havelock from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.