DUFFERIN-CALEDON COVID-19, COLD AND FLU CLINIC TO CLOSE

CLINIC TO OPERATE AT REDUCED HOURS UNTIL CLOSURE

After ramping up capacity during the height of the pandemic, the DufferinCaledon COVID-19, Cold and Flu Clinic at the Orangeville Pharmacy will close at the end of the month.

Medical professionals state the closure of the facility is due to the decrease in patient need for a COVID-19, cold and flu clinic as the pandemic continues to dissipate.

"The transition nearly three years ago, from a COVID-19 Assessment Centre in a tent on the hospital grounds to where we are today, has been a true testament to the collaboration in our local community," said Kim Delahunt, CEO and president of Headwaters Health Care Centre.

"The transition to expanded capacity for testing of symptomatic patients at the cold and flu centre allowed us to resume our focus on acute patient care. I'm so thankful for our partners, together with whom we have adapted to provide care close to home for thousands of patients in our community."

The Dufferin Area Family Health Team, in co-operation with Headwaters Health Care Centre and other Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario

Health Team partners, opened the Dufferin-Caledon COVID-19, Cold & Flu Clinic in October 2020 to provide clinical assessments for symptomatic patients.

Since that time, clinic physicians and staff have assessed more than 7,000 patients and swabbed more than 3,000 residents.

The clinic hours will now be reduced to Mondays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the rest of the month.

"We are grateful for the teams at Headwaters Health Care Centre, the Dufferin Area Family Health Team, and Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team partners, who over the past three years have ensured our community received the best care possible. It has been a difficult road and we appreciate your sacrifice and continued

dedication," said Lianne Barbour, executive director of the Dufferin Area Family Health Team and co-chair, Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team.

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Headwaters Health Care Centre had over 35,000 visits and the hospital completed over 10,550 tests within the hospital, which includes patients and staff members before the centre was established.

Symptomatic patients seeking an appointment for a COVID-19 assessment and patients eligible for a PCR swab can call 1-888530-1319 to make an appointment.

For more information about where to access COVID-19 assessments, treatments and testing eligibility, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-clinical-assessments-and-testing.