LATEST STORIES:
Hamilton launches online COVID-19 test booking as residents report long wait times
The City of Hamilton has begun online booking for COVID-19 tests, as demand for testing continues to grow.
Residents have reported experiencing long wait times at the walk-in test site and delays of several days to even book an appointment.
The city says visits to testing centres have doubled in recent weeks to about 1,000 people per day.
On Monday, the booking line received 3,000 calls, marking a huge jump from the 1,000 or so calls they were receiving two weeks ago.
They are now averaging about 2,000 calls a day.
The city says it is working to meet the increase in demand and has begun offering online booking.
“Online booking will help to prioritize appointments for those people at greatest risk, symptomatic individuals and close contacts of confirmed cases,” the city said in a news release.
It is limiting the number of walk-ins tested at the assessment centres and says residents who come to a testing centre without an appointment may be asked to book one online.
Residents can also call 905-974-9848 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to book a test.
Meanwhile, hours at St. Joseph’s West 5th campus testing site will be extended to weekends starting Sept. 26.
Hours will be from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. This is an appointment-only testing site.
Turnaround time for test results is within seven days.
The province is expanding test sites to include pharmacies.
Up to 60 pharmacies, most in the Toronto, Peel and Ottawa, will begin offering testing Friday.
More pharmacies are expected to be added to that list in the coming weeks.
