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Group Health Centre limits non-urgent appointments

All visitors will be verbally screened for symptoms and may be asked to wear a mask
SooToday Staff
20200301-Group Health Centre, winter, stock-DT-02
Group Health Centre. File photo, Darren Taylor/SooToday

NEWS RELEASE
GROUP HEALTH CENTRE
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Group Health Centre is limiting non-urgent appointments in an effort to reduce avoidable patient visits to its facilities. If you have an upcoming appointment, please be aware it may be cancelled or deferred. Patients may also choose to cancel their own appointments if they deem them to be non-urgent. You may also be given the option to have your appointment by telephone.

COVID-19 Screening

Point-of-entry screening is live at all Group Health Centre buildings. Your patience is appreciated. Please be aware that most patients who screen positive (respiratory symptoms, fever, or recent international travel) will be asked to go home and self-isolate. Patients with confirmed appointments that screen positive will be asked to don a mask and maintain spatial separation wherever possible.

As a reminder, there is no recommendation to test patients without symptoms at this time, and patients that have mild respiratory symptoms and/or fever should stay home from work or school.

Please self-isolate at home if:  

  • you have a mild respiratory illness  
  • you have recently travelled internationally, including by car; or  
  • you have been in close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19; or  
  • you have been in close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who has travelled internationally

While updated guidelines indicate testing is NOT required in most situations, including where mild symptoms are present, you may contact APH at 705-759-5404 to see if testing is appropriate.

Any healthcare facility, given its concentration of sick patients, is an area of heightened risk, particularly at this time with the potential for rapid transmission of the COVID-19 virus. As such, to limit risk to yourself and your family members, please consider the necessity of your visit before coming, and consider postponing any non-essential visits. If you are unsure of your risk, please contact your provider’s office.

The GHC is working as a community partner in managing this outbreak, and as such operations may be impacted over time in certain areas. We appreciate your patience.

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