Since opening on Monday, the drive-through COVID-19 test clinic has collected about 100 swabs from the public.
SA国际影视传媒淭he people that I was able to swab myself have been really receptive to the idea of being able to have their symptoms assessed and get the swab from the safety of their car. I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 been really well-received,SA国际影视传媒� as Jenna Long, a registered nurse with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) told SA国际影视传媒.
The clinic had its soft launch on Monday when it was accepting referrals from the emergency room, the clinics and from Public Health. It opened to the public on Tuesday.
More visitors have been coming since then as more people become aware of what symptoms to watch for, Long said.
Located in the parking lot just off 47th Street behind the Primary Care Centre, a few vehicles were seen going into the white tent where nurses went through assessments with the drivers.
Pre-swab assessment
SA国际影视传媒淏efore the swab theySA国际影视传媒檙e assessed by a nurse and asked screening criteria questions around symptoms theySA国际影视传媒檙e experiencing. Based on the responses itSA国际影视传媒檚 determined whether or not they qualify for a swab,SA国际影视传媒� Long said.
SA国际影视传媒淩ight now weSA国际影视传媒檙e using as criteria fever or cough or shortness of breath, regardless of travel history.SA国际影视传媒�
Long emphasized that visitors would be tested if they satisfy any one of the symptoms and people with no symptoms shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 come.
SA国际影视传媒淭he swab is collected from the comfort of their own vehicle, the idea being that weSA国际影视传媒檙e increasing accessibility and decreasing the risk of transmission by keeping people outside of our facilities if possible. Then theySA国际影视传媒檙e given the self-isolation and symptoms monitoring information package.SA国际影视传媒�
Follow-ups becoming more thorough
Everyone is contacted later, regardless of the test result with further instructions on next steps in case they have to self-isolate or seek further medical attention. Swabs are sent to a laboratory in Alberta. It can take up to one week to get back the result, according to the Department of Health and Social Services.
If anyone is flagged as needing a more thorough assessment and needs to be seen by a doctor theySA国际影视传媒檙e taken inside to SA国际影视传媒淧od BSA国际影视传媒� of the Primary Care Clinic. SA国际影视传媒淧od ASA国际影视传媒� is still offering primary care services, said Long.
Yellowknifers who donSA国际影视传媒檛 drive and who want to be tested can call Public Health at (867) 767-9120 to book an appointment at Pod B. But Long said they wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 turn away people who walk up to the drive-through tent.
The drive-through is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As of Wednesday morning there is one positive case of COVID-19 in NWT, with at least 533 tests conducted and 209 tests pending.
