Second London, Ont. COVID-19 assessment centre to open Thursday

The Middlesex-London Health Unit is opening a second COVID-19 assessment centre at the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre, near the intersection of Oxford and Adelaide.

The assessment centre will open at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

On Monday, the city's first assessment centre openedto long lineups outside Oakridge Arena and has seen more than 800 patients, health officials said.

"Opening a second COVID-19 assessment centre will increase access for residents of London and Middlesex County," officials said. "Assessment centres are intended to educate and provide further guidance as well as to triage individuals and determine the next steps in their care."

The news about the new assessment centre comes as Middlesex-London reported its fifth case of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

The assessment centres do not do COVID-19tests. Instead, they are set up toassess people's symptoms to keep them away from emergency rooms and doctors' offices.

In fact, most of the people who attended the assessment centre at Oakridge Arena did not require or get a COVID-19 test. There is also no medication or treatment at the sites.

Both assessment centres are open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit is urging people to take an online self-assessment or to call Telehealth at 1-866-797-000 for assessment.

"If you are not able to assess your symptoms, consider visiting the COVID-19 assessment centre for further information," health officials said.