NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF ORILLIA/ORILLIA SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
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The Couchiching COVID-19 Assessment Centre at OSMH is relocating to the City of Orillia’s Rotary Place, located at 100 University Ave., effective tomorrow – Tuesday, Oct. 6. The Centre had been operating in the Kiwanis Building on OSMH property since it first opened on March 19.
“The move addresses two major challenges,” said Carmine Stumpo, OSMH President and CEO. “It enables us to provide service indoors during the colder winter months ahead, and it offers adequate parking that is needed under the new ‘appointments only based’ model mandated by the province late last week.”
Up until now, the local Assessment Centre operated on a walk-in basis, accommodating requests as patients drove up to the Centre. The move will also alleviate the lengthy vehicle lineups that snaked through hospital neighbourhoods as people waited hours for a test.
“We’re very grateful to the City and emergency management leaders for their collaboration in making this space available on short notice,” said Stumpo.
The centre will continue to be run by OSMH staff and will maintain the same Operating Hours, from 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
“The City of Orillia is pleased to support our partners at OSMH and facilitate the move of the Assessment Centre to Rotary Place,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “Both of our teams have been working diligently in short order to make the move possible so that the Assessment Centre can continue to meet the needs of our community. On behalf of Council and the city’s Emergency Management Committee, I’d like to thank OSMH Assessment Centre staff for their hard work and perseverance during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
After careful consideration, Rotary Place was chosen by OSMH and City staff, in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), as the best location for the new Assessment Centre. The facility allows for ample parking, dedicated entry and exit, a large ice surface for testing, and a complete separation of the Assessment Centre from the rest of the building to allow for regularly scheduled recreation programming to continue. The SMDHU approved the use of Rotary Place as an Assessment Centre in conjunction with regular programming.
How to book an appointment at the Couchiching COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Rotary Place:
Appointments can be booked online or by phone. Click here to book online anytime. The web link is also available on the COVID-19 page of the OSMH website, or the City of Orillia website.
The telephone booking line is in the process of being established and the number will be shared as soon as it is available.
Things to know when attending the Assessment Centre
- Do not enter Rotary Place at the main entrance. Follow the signs and access the Assessment Centre through the dedicated entrance at the side of the building. Please follow the directions for exiting the building.
- Please follow all precautions including wearing a mask, social distancing and frequent hand hygiene
- The time of your appointment is the time that you should arrive at the Assessment Centre. Your test should be completed within approximately 30 minutes of your scheduled arrival time.
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