London

London's COVID-19 assessment centre opens, dozens line up for help

London's COVID-19 assessment centre opened at 11 a.m. at Oakridge Arena to dozens of people waiting to be triaged by health workers.

Health care workers are triaging people with concerns about their symptoms

A health care worker helps triage a potential patient at the London, Ont., COVID-19 assessment centre. (Colin Butler/CBC News)

London's COVID-19 assessment centre opened at 11 a.m. at Oakridge Arena to dozens of people waiting to be triaged by health workers. 

The assessment centre opened at 11 a.m. and there was a line-up of people waiting to talk to health professionals about their symptoms.

An assessment centre at Oakridge Arena in London, Ont. (Colin Butler/CBC News)

There is no testing being done at the site. Rather, people are asked to describe their symptoms and the health workers decide if they need further medical help. 

Officials hope the assessment centre will keep people from flooding hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices and urgent care centres. 

Before going to the assessment centre, Londoners are asked to use the Ontario Ministry of Health's online self-assessment tool and to call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000. 

People line up to get into the Oakridge Arena before it opens at 11 a.m. Monday, London's assessment centre for COVID-19. (Colin Butler/CBC News)

COVID-19 Assessment Centre

Location: 825 Valetta St.

Hours of operation: 7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.