As COVID-19 Cases Rise in Kingston, Demand for Testing Increases at KHSC – Kingston | The Canadian News

As COVID-19 cases rise in the KFL & A health region, there has been an increase in testing at the Beechgrove testing center, says Kingston Health Sciences Center.

As of Thursday, the KFL & A health unit is reporting 199 active cases in Kingston, a record for the city. Half of the known cases are related to community spread.

Throughout the month, approximately 450 tests were conducted each day at the Beechgrove site. That number has risen to more than 600 a day over the past week, including large numbers of children, KHSC said.

To cope with the increased demand for testing, KHSC has been adding nightly appointments to its daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. hours.

It is to encourage people to search for spaces on a daily basis if they need proof. At this time, the Beechgrove site does not accept walk-ins.

KHSC also asks anyone who is unable to attend their scheduled appointment to cancel, to allow others to access the space.

2:49Students will receive rapid COVID-19 tests before the holidays in Ontario

On Thursday, the province announced a winter COVID-19 vaccination strategy, including: a barrage of mobile tests during the holidays, low-barrier testing options for elementary and middle school students, and expanded access to testing through pharmacy.

KHSC said it hopes these additional measures, especially take-home tests and tests at certain pharmacies, can lighten the load on the Kingston testing center.

“With a file on Jessica Patton from Global News.”

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