Mobile Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing to Take Place in Tilbury, Blenheim and Thamesville in July

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 29, 2020

Mobile Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Clinics to Take Place in Tilbury, Blenheim and Thamesville

CHATHAM-KENT: June 29, 2020 – Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) in partnership with Chatham-Kent EMS, CK Public Health, Family Health Teams (Chatham-Kent, Thamesview and Tilbury) and the Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres will offer additional mobile drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinics across the municipality. After the success of the drive-thru clinics in Wallaceburg that saw 436 residents swabbed from June 11-13, the communities of Tilbury, Blenheim and Thamesville will host drive-thru clinics throughout the month of July. Anyone who believes they require a COVID-19 swab test can go to one of these clinics and receive a test. This testing initiative will also be available to residents who do not arrive in a vehicle. The clinics dates and locations are as follows:

Tilbury

Thursday, July 9 and Friday July, 10

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tilbury Arena 49 Bond Avenue, Tilbury, ON, N0P 2L0

Blenheim

Thursday, July 16 and Friday July, 17

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Blenheim Memorial Arena 199 King Street South, Blenheim, ON, N0P 1A0

Thamesville

Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 24

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thamesville Area Public School30 Mary Street, Thamesville, ON, N0P 2K0

The mobile drive-thru COVID-19 clinics will operate as follows:

  • The clinics will take place in the parking lots of each specified venue. No appointment is needed.
  • Signage will direct patients upon arrival for both those who arrive in vehicles and those who do not.
  • A staff member will register you while you are in your car. Please bring a valid Ontario health card.
  • The health care team will perform the COVID-19 swab test while you are in your car; please remain in your car after you register to receive a test.
  • Patients will be sent home with information on self-isolation and how to view their test results online. CK Public Health will call ALL patients who are swabbed at these clinics regardless of their results.
  • If heat warnings are in effect on clinic days, out of precaution, please do not bring children and frail adults in cars who are not being tested, as well as pets.
  • Additional COVID-19 clinics will take place in Wheatley and Dresden. The public will be notified of these clinic details once they are confirmed

“After our successful drive-thru clinics in Wallaceburg, we are pleased to bring COVID-19 testing to more communities throughout Chatham-Kent,” said Lori Marshall, President and CEO, CKHA. “Since the pandemic was declared, our highly collaborative partnerships within the local health system have ensured that we remain vigilant in protecting our vulnerable populations and the wider community.”

“Chatham-Kent EMS is excited to join our health system partners and expand our mobile COVID-19 testing clinic. Being able to provide testing throughout the municipality helps us achieve our objective of providing equitable access to care for our residents,” said Donald MacLellan, General Manager, Chatham-Kent EMS.

“With the success of the Wallaceburg mobile clinic, it was important to provide this service to other areas of Chatham-Kent,” said Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health. “By bringing more mobile clinics, more residents in our community will have access to testing who may not be able to get to Chatham as easily,” added Dr. Colby.

“Tilbury District Family Heath Team, as part of the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, is excited to be part of this initiative. Mobile clinics throughout our municipality are welcomed and needed. We have been working closely with our partners and encourage our patients and the community to attend the swabbing clinics,” said Kelly Griffiths, Executive Director, Tilbury District Family Health Team.

Anyone with questions about COVID-19 are advised to visit CK Public Health’s website at http://www.ckpublichealth.com/covid19, call CK Public Health’s COVID-19 intake line at 519.355.1071 x1900 or email covid19@chatham-kent.ca.

Visit the Government of Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province is continuing to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

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Media Contacts:

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
Fannie Vavoulis, Director, Communications, 519.359.3172
fvavoulis@ckha.on.ca

Chatham-Kent EMS
Donald MacLellan, General Manager, 519.401.4922
Donald.Maclellan@memsochathamkent.com

CK Public Health
Stephanie Egelton, Community Outreach & Public Relations Officer, 226.312.2023 x 2487
stephaniee@chatham-kent.ca