Kingston Health Sciences Centre outlines new guidelines for COVID-19 testing

Amid spiking Omicron cases, and to make sure those who require tests the most have access to them, Kingston Health Sciences Centre has updated its eligibility requirements for COVID-19 testing at the Beechgrove Assessment Centre.

Effective immediately, only the following will be eligible for testing:

• Symptomatic people who fall into the following categories:
  • Patient-facing health-care workers
  • Staff, residents, essential care providers, and visitors in hospitals and congregate living settings, including long-term care, retirement homes, group homes, shelters, hospices, and correctional institutions
  • Outpatients for whom COVID-19 treatment is being considered
  • Individuals who are unhoused or homeless

• High-risk contacts and asymptomatic/symptomatic people in the context of confirmed or suspected outbreaks in high-risk settings, including hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes as directed by the local public health unit
• People who are from First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities and individuals travelling into these communities for work

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The hospital says elementary and high school students and staff are able to drop off their at-home PCR tests at the assessment centre.