Mass testing for the population of Belledune

Bathurst, Wednesday, October 28, 2020 – Vitalité Health Network announces that a COVID-19 mass testing clinic will be held in the Belledune region (Zone 5). This decision was made in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the province. Once again, the objective is to get an accurate picture of the prevalence of the virus in the community given the current outbreak in that region.

The testing clinic will be held on:

• Friday, October 30, 2020, at the Belledune Recreation and Cultural Centre, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No appointment is necessary, but people are required to bring their Medicare card. Screening tests will be done on a first come, first served basis. Since a waiting period outside is to be expected, the Network is asking for the public’s collaboration and recommends that people dress warmly.

All testing done during that day is only intended for people who do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. Those who are self-isolating because of COVID-19 must remain in self-isolation and refrain from going to the testing clinic. People with symptoms are asked to request a test online or call Tele-Care 811 to get an appointment at the nearest screening centre.

Since this testing clinic is intended for asymptomatic people, preventive isolation is not required while awaiting test results.

Because the community of Belledune is part of Zone 5, which is currently at Orange level, only people living within this zone are invited to be tested.

The Network would like to remind people about the importance of following health advice to protect themselves and their loved ones, which is to wear a mask, maintain two metres of physical distancing and wash their hands often.