Testing is available for:
- Anyone with at least one symptom
- Anyone concerned they have been exposed to COVID-19
- Anyone who is at risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their employment (e.g. health care workers, grocery store employees, food processing employees)
If you require urgent care, call 911 or visit the hospital emergency department and advise them of your symptoms and travel history, if applicable.
Please call the assessment centres below to schedule an appointment for testing.
No one who is symptomatic or who is concerned they have been exposed to COVID-19 will be declined a test at an assessment centre.
Before going to an assessment centre
- You do not need a referral from a primary care provider or Public Health to access testing. All the assessment centres take self-referrals.
- If you would like, you can use the self-assessment tool or speak to your primary care provider, to help determine if you need to seek care or testing.
- If you are unable to leave your home for testing due to a medical condition, speak to your health care provider or call an assessment centre.
Assessment and testing centres
Note: This information is provided by the assessment centres and may change. For full details, visit the website for each assessment centre.
| Location | Hours |
|---|---|
|
Cambridge-North Dumfries Community Assessment and Testing Centre (Cambridge Memorial Hospital) |
8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Grand River Hospital COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Centre 137 Glasgow Street, Kitchener (in the Catalyst parking lot) No appointment is necessary, walk-ups can be accommodated. |
7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Seven days a week |
| St. Mary's General Hospital COVID-19 Testing Centre 50 Bathurst Drive, Unit 1, Waterloo Self-referrals are accepted by calling 519-885-9517 |
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seven days a week |
|
Kitchener-Waterloo-Wilmot-Wellesley-Woolwich (KW4) Community Assessment Centre |
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
For assessment and testing information for health care workers please visit our Health Professionals page.
After you are tested
If you get tested, remain in self-isolation while you wait for your results if you:
- have symptoms
- are a close contact
- have travelled outside of Canada
If you do not have symptoms and do not have any possible exposure risk, you do not need to self-isolate while awaiting results. Continue to monitor for symptoms, practice physical distancing, wear a non-medical mask (unless you can maintain physical distancing), and wash your hands often.
You can review your test results online through the Ministry of Health.
Please note that if you are a returning traveller and under the Quarantine Act, a negative test does not exempt you from the 14 day self-isolation period required by the Quarantine Act.
Region of Waterloo Public Health will contact all individuals who test positive for COVID-19. If your test result is negative you should continue to follow the instructions given to you when you got tested.Practice physical distancing, wear a face covering, wash your hands often and continue to self-monitor for symptoms. Get tested again if symptoms develop. Please refer to COVID-19 testing handout for more details.
Please note: Region of Waterloo Public Health is not able to expedite test results for any reason including travel, medical procedures or visitation requirements at long-term care or retirement homes.
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