After 16 months in operation, the COVID-19 assessment centre at the Oakridge Area will be shutting down permanently.

The testing clinic, located at 825 Valetta Street, opened its doors on March 16, 2020. Operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, over 80,000 people have been swabbed at the location.

"The staff at the Oakridge Assessment Centre embraced the opportunity to provide the best possible care for patients. We feel very proud to have been able to do our part during the pandemic and to be part of the Oakridge Assessment Centre family," said Andrea Fisher, a registered nurse who worked at the Oakridge assessment site.

The testing site transitioned through a number of protocols in the early days of the pandemic, as lines of vehicles wrapped around neighbourhood streets with people getting tested. Since then, the system has been streamlined, with little impact to the community.

"We want to sincerely thank the Oakridge community, from homemade signs thanking assessment centre employees to donations of lunches and snacks, their support has meant so much during our time here," said Mike McMahon, the Executive Director of the Thames Valley Family Health Team.

The centre has not been used for community programs for the past 16 months but will reopen once an assessment is made.

"As the COVID-19 testing centre closes, we'll be working to assess the facilities and make the transition back to a community centre," said Jon-Paul McGonigle, the Director of Recreation and Sport with the City of London.

"Our goal is to offer as many programs and services as possible, including the pool, but we won't be able to determine what's possible until we've been able to do that assessment."

McGonigle said more information about plans for Oakridge for the remainder of the summer will be shared in coming weeks.

COVID-19 testing will continue at the Carling Heights assessment centre at 656 Elizabeth Street with new hours of 9:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Bookings for a test can be made at covidtestinglm.ca or by phone at 519-685-8500, extention 75503 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The COVID-19 assessment centres are operated in partnership with London Health Sciences Centre and the Thames Valley Family Health Team, with support from Middlesex-London Paramedic Services, the Middlesex-London Health Unit and the City of London.