MEDIA RELEASE

Community COVID-19 Assessment Centres

For Immediate Release — Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Timmins, — There has been tremendous dedication of many community Head Office: 169 Pine Street South partners in response to the COVID-19 situation. The Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) Postal Bag 2012 has collaborated with the and District Hospital (TADH), Timmins Timmins, ON P4N 8B7

Academic Family Health Team (TAFHT), Canadian Mental Health Association Phone: 705 267 1181 (CMHA), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the City of Fax: 705 264 3980 Toll Free: 800 461 1818 Timmins to establish a COVID-19 Assessment Centre to ensure access to those who require assessment for COVID-19.

The purpose of the COVID-19 Assessment Centre is to screen community members with potential COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath and/or new

or worse cough, and those who have recently travelled internationally or who have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

COVID-19 symptoms are mild in most cases, and individuals generally do not require medical assessment in the emergency department. While there is no specific treatment for COVID-19, Assessment Centres provide an opportunity for care while the emergency department and acute healthcare services are kept available for those

who need it.

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre will be located at Intrepid Place (located within

the Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane Timiskaming Branch building at 330 Second Avenue, Suite 201). The centre will be open Monday to Friday from

8:30 am to 12:30 pm.

If you suspect you have symptoms of COVID-19, call the PHU for screening and

advice at 705-267-1181 (or 1-800-461-1818) at extension 2919. Eligible clients will be referred for an appointment at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre. This will not

be a walk-in service.

The Porcupine Health Unit is located in , serving the entire

Cochrane District and Hornepayne, in Algoma District. The main office is located in Timmins, Ontario, with branch offices in Cochrane, Hearst, Hornepayne,

Iroquois Falls, , Matheson, and Smooth Rock Falls. E-mail: [email protected] For further information, please contact: Web site: www.porcupinehu.on.ca

Gary Schelling Joan Ludwig Branch Offices: Cochrane, Hearst, Communications Specialist Chief Nursing Executive/VP Clinical Hornepayne, , Kapuskasing, Matheson, Porcupine Health Unit Timmins and District Hospital Moosonee, Smooth Rock Falls 705-267-1181, ext. 2413 705-360-6090 [email protected] [email protected]