COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic opens at Peterborough Regional Health Centre

The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has expanded services at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre to include testing and treatment of cold and flu symptoms.

This comes as hospitals and communities across the province have seen a surge in respiratory illnesses.

Services at the COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic have been expanded to include assessment, testing and treatment for patients with the following symptoms:

• Fever or chills

• Sore throat

• Difficulty breathing

• Decreased or loss of taste or smell

• Runny nose or nasal congestion

• Headache

• Extreme tiredness

• Cough (not related to other causes such as allergies)

• Muscle aches or joint pain

• Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting or diarrhea)

• Abdominal pain (not related to other causes)

• Pink eye (not related to other causes)

“The expanded COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic at PRHC (formerly the COVID-19 Assessment Centre) provides a faster, more convenient option for patients with COVID, cold and flu symptoms to be seen by a physician, helping to alleviate some of the pressures currently being felt in the hospital’s Emergency Department,” reads a release.

Consider making an appointment with PRHC’s COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic if:

• You do not have a primary care provider. • Your symptoms or your child’s symptoms are getting worse or are not improving

• You feel that you need medical care.

• You have been told by a health professional to go to the COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic. • You are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 and you qualify for testing and treatment.

Children must be aged one year or older to be seen at the clinic. If you or your child develop severe symptoms of illness, or you are worried your child is seriously ill, call 911 or go to the emergency department.

HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Appointments can be made at the COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic by calling 705-876-5086. Walk-ins will not be accepted. If you are registered with a family physician/practitioner, contact them first. You may also contact Health Connect Ontario — a free, confidential service that is available by calling 811 or visiting the website. This service provides 24/7 access to non-urgent health advice and information.

Parents are encouraged to access the following helpful resources to support them in taking care of their children as the shortage of pediatric acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) products continues:

• https://www.ontariofamilyphysicians.ca/files/ocfp_actionsparentscantake.pdf

• https://www.pharmacists.ca/advocacy/issues/drug-shortages/childrens-medication-shortage/

A reminder that masking continues to be required for anyone coming to PRHC, including the COVID, Cold and Flu clinic, and is strongly encouraged in the community to protect all vulnerable people, from the spread of illness. PRHC provides medical-grade masks for all patients and visitors.

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