A satellite COVID-19 Assessment Centre was opened at Queen’s University this week as part of ongoing efforts to keep the Kingston community safe from potential spread of the virus.

Operated by Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), the facility will support Queen’s students by offering testing to those who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days, or require tests for contact tracing purposes, as advised by KFL&A Public Health and Queen’s Student Wellness Services.

“We believe the launch of this campus Assessment Centre is an important part of the overall plan to combat COVID-19 in our community,” says Mark Green, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). “Its opening reenforces our commitment to be a proactive and responsible community partner at all times.”

The Assessment Centre is located adjacent to Student Wellness Services in Mitchell Hall. It will operate from Monday to Friday, 5 pm to 8 pm, and by appointment only. Students can also access the Primary Assessment Centre at the Leon’s Centre in downtown Kingston.

“Providing on-campus testing to students is vital to the quick identification of cases, quick treatment, and immediate isolation to prevent spread of the virus,” says Dr. David Pichora, KHSC President and CEO. “It will also help Public Health to characterize the prevalence, spread, and contagiousness of COVID-19 in our region—the faster students are tested, the safer the entire community will be. And the satellite will ease volumes in the Primary Assessment Centre.”

All students who test positive for COVID-19 will be notified by KFL&A Public Health, which will also coordinate testing of contacts with KHSC.

Queen’s University students can book an appointment at the on-campus COVID-19 Assessment Centre by calling Student Wellness Services at 613.533.2506.

The testing facility is the latest step in the university’s overall return-to-campus strategy, which seeks the safe, responsible, and gradual return to normal operations, as Public Health guidelines permit. As part of this effort, the university is continuing with remote delivery of classes this fall for most students, limiting the capacity of our residences to under 50 per cent, making face masks mandatory, and ensuring physical distancing. Queen’s has begun a phased reopening of the Athletics and Recreation Centre with new health and safety protocols in place, and has added a COVID-19 assessment tool to its on-campus mobile safety app, SeQure.

Queen’s is also strongly encouraging students from areas with active outbreaks or community transmission to get tested before travelling to Kingston and asking all students to limit contact with others for 14 days after arrival. Everyone is also encouraged to follow hand hygiene, mask wearing, physical distancing, and other public health guidance to limit COVID-19 spread.

For more information on the university’s COVID-19 planning and resources, visit the COVID-19 Information website.