Where to get assessed for COVID-19 in York Region

New centres at Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill, Southlake in Newmarket and Markham Stouffville Hospital

Yorkregion.com
March 18, 2020
Kim Zarzour

York Region has three new centres for assessing COVID-19: Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill, Markham Stouffville Hospital in Markham and Southlake in Newmarket to ease pressure on emergency departments and reduce transmission of the novel coronavirus.

Here’s what you need to know about facilities in your community.

MACKENZIE HEALTH

Location: In the Medical Urgent Care Clinic, via a separate entrance to the hospital between the B-wing and C-wing entrances.

Hours: Monday to Friday: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Hours are subject to change and will be updated at MackenzieHealth.ca.)

Who gets tested: Individuals will not be able to walk in to get tested. First take the ontario.ca self-assessment tool to determine what next steps are appropriate.

If you answered yes to the questions, contact your primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. Let them know that you have used the self-assessment tool.

If it is determined that further assessment is required, contact Mackenzie Health 905-883-1212 ext. 2004 to book an appointment.

If your symptoms worsen, visit your local emergency department.

Visiting the hospital: Mackenzie Health has closed off all entrances to visitors except C-Wing and D-Wing.

Any visitors with a fever, respiratory symptoms or both, or those who have travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days will not be permitted to enter the hospital.

For the most up-to-date list of open entrances, visit the hospital’s website at MackenzieHealth.ca.

SOUTHLAKE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE

Location: In the Ambulance Bay next to the Emergency Department on Davis Drive.

Hours: Open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Check for changes to this information, visit southlake.ca

Who gets tested: Not everyone who visits the assessment centre will be tested. A physician will make that clinical determination after assessing.

If you think you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, please review the self-assessment tool developed by Public Health Ontario to help you determine if you need to come to our Assessment Centre: ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-self-assessment.

If you have been instructed to visit an assessment centre, you are advised to use the main entrance of the Emergency Department, where you will be pre-screened by a nurse who will provide further instruction.

If it’s determined that a test is required, the patient will be swabbed and the sample sent for processing. While awaiting results, patients will be given instructions on how to self-isolate at home.

Length of time for results will vary depending on the number of tests being performed. Public Health will provide the results and any other necessary information.

Visiting the hospital: To enter the main hospital, use the east main entrance on Roxborough Road or the Level 2 Bridge in the West Parking Garage.

Entrance to the Medical Arts Building is through the north entrance, parking lot side or through the bridge.

To enter the Cancer Centre, use the ground-level lobby entrance.

Patients who are going to the Emergency Department should continue to use the main emergency department entrance.

Visiting hours are reduced from 12 to 7 p.m., one visitor per patient, with no one allowed under age 18.

Some high-risk areas may not allow visitors.

All patients and visitors will be screened before entering the hospital, asked about travel history and symptoms, and based on the results, may not be allowed to enter.

If it is deemed that you require further medical attention, you may be directed to either the Emergency Department or the new assessment centre.

MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE HOSPITAL

Location: Opening March 18, the COVID-19 Assessment Centre cannot be accessed from inside the hospital. The entrance is located on the south side of the hospital, east of the Emergency Department. Parking is in lot #7.

Hours: 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Who gets tested: Screening, assessment and testing is available for anyone in Markham, Stouffville, Uxbridge and surrounding area who is experiencing symptoms (such as a fever, new or worsening cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose and joint aches). The centre is walk-in only and will not take appointments or phone calls.

Only individuals who meet certain criteria would be tested for COVID-19 and they will receive results from York Region Public Health along with instructions.

Visiting the hospital: Visitors will be required to enter the building from the main entrance or the Emergency Department entrance (Markham or Uxbridge sites), and go through the screening process.

In-patients will be allowed a maximum of two consistent visitors. Outpatients, including all clinic visits and emergency department care, will be allowed a maximum of one support person only when needed.

For the most up-to-date info, visit msh.on.ca.