Region's COVID Care Clinic moves to Kitchener, adds cold and flu care
Clinic hours will also expand to accommodate people in the evening
Waterloo region's COVID Care Clinic has moved to Kitchener and expanded its services to treat cold and flu patients.
The clinic, which is run by Grand River Hospital (GRH), was previously located at Pinebush Road in Cambridge, but now calls 50 Sportsworld Dr., home.
The clinic has also changed its name to the Regional COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic to reflect the expansion of services, which comes as the province is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
"Expanding the services we offer to include cold and flu symptoms allows us to support more community-based care," Bonnie Camm, executive vice-president of clinical services at GRH, said in a release.
"Building this capacity in our health system is crucial for reducing the strain on emergency departments and preventing hospitalizations whenever possible."
As a result, the clinic will expand its hours to accommodate people in the evening. From Monday to Thursday the clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The clinic will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m from Friday to Sunday.
The clinic will accommodate 400 visits per week, GRH said, to treat and assess people who may have:
- Moderate or worsening COVID-19, cold, or influenza symptoms and may not be able to manage them safely at home.
- People with symptoms and need COVID-19 testing or treatments, but are at a higher risk of severe disease.
- Have COVID-19, cold, or influenza-like symptoms and don't have a regular primary care clinician.
- And those eligible for COVID-19 PCR testing, like health care workers.
GRH said COVID-19 testing for those eligible will still be available by walk-in, but appointments are available for patients of all ages, including children for COVID-19 cold and influenza symptom assessment.
People can call (226) 806-5690 to book an appointment.