Expansion of Mandate for the Chatham-Kent Clinical and COVID-19 Assessment Centre and New Name: Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic
CHATHAM-KENT: December 6, 2022 – Under direction from Ontario Health, the Chatham-Kent Clinical and COVID-19 Assessment Centre is expanding its mandate to provide timely clinical services and can test, assess, and provide treatment for people with COVID-19 and other cold and respiratory flu-like illnesses. As part of the mandate expansion, the name has been changed to the Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic. This is being implemented to provide appointments to the public if they do not have a primary care provider, cannot be seen in a timely manner by their primary care provider, and to conserve the needed capacity in Emergency Departments at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). PCR Testing is also still available at the Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic.
The Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic is located at 10 Grand Avenue West in Chatham (7-11 plaza). Hours of operation are 9am – 5pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (Closed Tuesday, Thursday, and Sundays). It is required that individuals book an appointment to be seen at the Clinic. To access the booking tool, please visit www.assessmentbooking.ca or call 519-436-2556.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19 and other cold and flu-like illnesses?
Below are some of the symptoms you may have when you have COVID-19 or other cold and flu-like illnesses:
- Fever or chills
- Cough (not related to other causes such as allergies)
- Difficulty breathing
- Decreased or loss of taste or smell
- Runny nose or nasal congestion
- Headache
- Extreme tiredness
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting or diarrhea)
- Abdominal pain (not related to other causes)
- Pink eye (not related to other causes)
When should I visit the Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic?
Call your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) first if you or your child have the symptoms above and feel that you need medical care.
Your primary care provider will give you advice about what to do next. This may include:
- Caring for yourself or your child at home
- Seeing your primary care provider either virtually or in-person
- Going to the Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic
Consider visiting the Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic if:
- You do not have a primary care provider
- Your symptoms or your child’s symptoms are getting worse or are not improving, and you feel that you need medical care
- You have been told by any health professional to go to the Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic
- You are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 and you qualify for COVID-19 testing and treatment
When do I need to go to the emergency department?
If you or your child develop severe symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency department.
For adults, severe symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
For children, severe symptoms include:
- Working hard or straining to breathe – for example, the lower chest is moving in more than normal when the child breathes, the child is grunting, or the child’s nostrils are flaring
- Bluish skin
- Unable to breastfeed or drink
- Very sleepy or difficult to wake
- Peeing less than usual
- Fever with rash
- Seizures or convulsions
- Fever in an infant younger than 3 months
If you are worried your child is seriously ill, call 911 or go to the emergency department.
“We are pleased to be expanding the mandate of Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic for both adults and children in our community to offer clinical assessments for those who cannot manage their moderate and/or worsening respiratory illnesses. These changes are being put in place to prioritize the community-based care of patients with respiratory symptoms to keep patients safe and healthy, as well as lessen the strain on emergency departments and ultimately prevent hospitalizations.” stated Dr. Briana Yee-Providence, Medical Director of the Chatham-Kent COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic.
To learn more please go to: https://www.ckha.on.ca/covid-19-information
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Media contact:
Fannie Vavoulis
Director, Communications
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
fvavoulis@ckha.on.ca
519-359-3172
