THUNDER BAY — Wait times for some people wanting a COVID-19 test in Thunder Bay appear to be getting longer as the demand for tests increases.
A check of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences website on Monday afternoon showed that the hospital was scheduling tests for non-symptomatic patients for Oct. 3.
The assessment centre at the hospital triages patients to determine who should be tested first.
Priority goes to those who are showing moderate to severe symptoms, or who have been in contact with someone who's tested positive.
The centre tries to get them tested the same day or next day.
These individuals are asked to phone 935-8100 to make a booking.
Non-symptomatic patients are asked to book online.
On Friday, the hospital estimated that non-symptomatic patients might expect to wait four or five days to receive a test.
However, just three days later, the delay had stretched out to nearly two weeks.
Earlier appointments may be possible when cancellations occur.
A hospital spokesperson told Tbnewswatch "the wait time will fluctuate based on demand, which is steadily increasing."
In recent weeks, the assessment centre has processed about 2,500 tests per week.
District Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janet DeMille said the Thunder Bay District Health Unit is working closely with the TBRHSC to ensure essential tests are done expeditiously.
"Anybody who is recommended, who needs a test for public health purposes, we can get them in right away. What's maybe taking a little big longer sometimes, the people who have no symptoms and no exposures." DeMille said.
She said she doesn't necessarily see a problem with some patients having to wait.
"Because I know we can get the ones that really need that testing on a more urgent basis," DeMille said.
She added, however, "Anybody who has symptoms, even mild symptoms, we want them to get in fairly quickly."
DeMille said the hospital's expanded testing hours to seven days a week "is really great" in terms of making testing available at the earliest opportunity, considering the current demand.
Test results typically are not available until two to five days after a sample is taken.
In the anticipation that requests will continue to ramp up going into the fall, the hospital has said it is working with community partners to try to make testing available at other locations in Thunder Bay.
Dr. Stewart Kennedy, TBRHSC's incident manager for COVID-19, feels there needs to be better coordination to improve testing rates across Ontario.
As an example, Kennedy suggested that testing services be expanded to pharmacies, which already provide services such as flu shots. Premier Doug Ford announced later on Monday that testing will be rolled out at pharmacies in a matter of days.
The hospital has been receiving an average of 300 calls daily from people requesting a COVID-19 test.
Kennedy said the level of demand is "overwhelming" testing facilities across the province and across Canada.
