New drive-thru COVID-19 test site coming to Ottawa

Assembly of anew drive-thru COVID-19 assessment centre in the parking lot ofRaymond Chabot Grant Thornton (RCGT) Park on Coventry Road has begun, the Champlain COVID-19 Response Committee says.

The new centrewill be ready to take bookings "in the coming days," the committee said in a written statement through a spokesperson on Tuesday.

"Residents will be able to get tested for COVID-19 without leaving their cars. Residents will need to book an appointment in advance for this site through an online booking system," the statement said.

The online booking system will be available through Ottawa Public Health's website in next few days.

Health officials said people with symptoms would be better off going to one of the city's care clinics, or the Brewer Park Arena assessment centre, since the new site at RCGT Park will only offer testing, and no clinical assessment.

Councillor still pushing for east-end site

"I'm really glad to see that we are expanding capacity across the city," said Orlans Coun. Matthew Luloff,one of several local politicians who has called on The Ottawa Hospital to create a testing site in the city's east end.

"But itdoesn't solve the issue that, even with the new site, that's still 10 kilometres away from us, on the other side of the Greenbelt."

Luloffalso pointed out that whiledrive-thru testing sites are considered a safe option, not everyone owns a car.

The Champlain COVID-19 Response Committee said additional mobile testing options are being exploredand "will be implemented shortly."

A previous drive-thru testing sitewas set up temporarily in March at theQueensway Carleton Hospital but was closed once theBrewer site opened.