Montreal coronavirus testing centre to move from Place-des-Arts

Health Officials have confirmed that the screening clinic set up for COVID-19 testing at Place-des-Arts in downtown Montreal will be taken down and moved to the Hotel-Dieu emergency department, according to La Presse.

"The site is in the process of being closed, because the screening services have been transferred to the old emergency department of the Hôtel-Dieu," said Jean Nicolas Aube, senior advisor for media relations at the Integrated University Health and social services of Center-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS).

The CIUSSS also stated in a news release that, “community transmission now generates the most cases of COVID-19 in Quebec, which is why a new approach to screening is being implemented.”

The CIUSSS will be prioritizing the following patients to be screened first:

• Residents and staff of seniors' homes such as residential and long-term care centres (CHSLD), intermediate resources (RI) and family-type resources (RTF).
• People who already have symptoms and who live in other at-risk environments (e.g. homeless shelters).
• People who already have symptoms and who have a recommendation from a regional public-health authority.
• People who work in essential services industries such as healthcare workers and police.

The CIUSSS is recommending that those with flu, gastrointestinal or COVID-19 symptoms call 514-644-4545 or 1-877-644-4545 for an assessment that will result in being directed to the correct clinic if necessary.