In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marathon Family Health Team (MFHT) opened a COVID-19 Assessment Centre on April 1, 2020.
The Assessment Centre is where community members will be required to go if they need to be assessed by a healthcare provider and tested for COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre is located below the Marathon Family Health Team, on the right side of the Marathon Public Library. It is located outside of the clinic and hospital to help prevent the spread of the virus by limiting the number of individuals entering healthcare facilities. This will help keep patients, healthcare providers and staff safe as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
When to get tested for COVID-19
The testing criteria for COVID-19 have recently changed, meaning that more individuals are now eligible for testing. The criteria may continue to change over time.
If you have been experiencing upper respiratory symptoms (i.e. cough, sore throat, runny nose) and/or flu like symptoms (i.e. fever, nausea, diarrhea), please call MFHT find out if you need to be tested for COVID-19.
Booking an appointment at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre
Please DO NOT come to the clinic or to the COVID-19 Assessment Centre if you don’t have an appointment or if you haven’t been instructed to do so by a healthcare provider.
If you think you need to be tested for COVID-19, there are a few ways to book an appointment, including:
• Calling MFHT at 807-229-3243,
• Booking an appointment online by visiting https://mfht.org/ and clicking on “request an appointment” (top right corner), filling out the form and pressing “send”, or
• Sending an email to [email protected]. Include your name, date of birth, telephone number, and the reason for the appointment.
If you book your appointment online (via MFHT’s website or email address), someone from the clinic will contact you by telephone to book your appointment.
When booking your appointment with the clinic staff, your concerns will be assessed and you may be given one of the following:
• An in-person appointment at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre,
• A drive-through appointment at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre,
• A phone appointment to discuss your symptoms or concerns with a healthcare provider. Through the phone appointment the healthcare provider may then recommen and book you for COVID-19 testing at the Assessment Centre.
What to expect during your appointment at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre
On the day of your appointment, you will be asked to drive to the COVID-19 Assessment Centre. When you pass the hospital and get to the Marathon Public Library, turn right and head to the area that is marked with orange and black traffic barricades. You will see a stop sign indicating where to park your vehicle. If there is a line-up, park in the library parking area and do not block the roadway. Wait until clear before you proceed to the stop sign.
Once your vehicle is parked, a healthcare provider will come out to assess you in your vehicle if it is for a drive-through assessment or they will let you know when you can enter the facility for your in-person assessment. They will begin by taking your temperature and oxygen saturation level. They may also listen to your lungs and they will then complete a COVID-19 swab through your nose and provide you with a self-isolation kit to bring home with you.
After your appointment, you will be instructed to drive home and continue to self-isolate (i.e. don’t leave your home or come into contact with anyone) for a minimum of 14 days or until told otherwise by your healthcare provider. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be asked to go to the hospital for further care. When leaving the COVID-19 Assessment Centre, proceed forward and follow the one-way directional signs out of the barricaded area to Peninsula Road.
Your swab will be sent to a lab outside of the region and due to travel delays, you can expect to receive your results within 7 to 9 days.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit Marathon Family Health Team’s website at https://mfht.org/ or follow us on Facebook at Marathon Family Health Team – Health Promotion.
