October 20, 2020
Wasaga Beach, Ontario – October 19, 2020 – As part of ongoing efforts to keep the South Georgian Bay community safe from potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, a new Drive Through COVID-19 Assessment Centre will open in Wasaga Beach on October 21, 2020.
The assessment centre will be located in the parking lot behind the RecPlex Centre, located at 1724 Mosley Street in Wasaga Beach. The site will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. by appointment only and will accommodate drive-through clients.
“The addition of a COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Wasaga Beach will enable improved access for COVID testing for residents of our region, and will allow us to be responsive to increased demand in the event of an outbreak or impact of the second wave,” said Marie LaRose, Executive Director, Georgian Bay Family Health Team. “Creating increased testing capacity and preparedness is a critical component of reducing COVID-19 transmission in our community.”
Appointments for swabbing can be booked via phone at 705-444-5885 Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or by visiting www.gbfht.ca to access the waitlist, available Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. When residents arrive for their appointment they are to wait in their vehicles until the assessment centre contacts and registers them. At the time of their appointment, they will be contacted to proceed in their vehicles alongside the tent in the RecPlex Parking lot for testing. Assessment and testing will be undertaken while individuals remain in their vehicles.
The Wasaga Beach COVID-19 Assessment Centre is a collaboration of community partners including the Georgian Bay Family Health Team, the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, and the South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre working in concert with the town of Wasaga Beach.
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About the Georgian Bay Family Health Team
The Georgian Bay Family Health Team is a collaborative team of interdisciplinary health care professionals delivering quality health care in a patient-centered environment. For more information, please visit www.gbfht.ca.
About the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital
Collingwood G&M Hospital (CGMH) is a 74 bed hospital located in Collingwood, Ontario (approximately 90 minutes north of Toronto) that serves more than 60,000 permanent residents and 3.5 Million annual visitors to the communities of Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Clearview and the Blue Mountains. The G&M is an acute care hospital providing emergency care, diagnostic services including lab, imaging and cardio respiratory therapy, as well as two inpatient units (medicine and surgery). In addition, the G&M also provides care in specialty areas including obstetrics, orthopaedics, intensive care and surgery. The Hospital also provides out patient care including dialysis and a wide range of clinics including mental health and rehabilitation services. The G&M continues to provide care close to home for our community and plays a key role as an integrated orthopaedic centre for our region. For more information please visit our website at www.cgmh.on.ca and our Foundation website at www.cgmhf.com.
About the South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre
The South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre is a non-profit, community-governed, charitable organization that focuses on the health and wellbeing of individuals in the community. They provide everyone in the community with access to health care services, free community programs and community development. The SGBCHC is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, through the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network. For more information please visit www.southgeorgianbaychc.ca.
Media Contact(s):
Louise Picot
South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre
705-606-1549
louise@louisepicot.com
Lisa van Kolfschoten
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital
705-445-2550 ext: 8307
vankolfschotenl@cgmh.on.ca