A message from the District of Muskoka
Community paramedics in Muskoka continue to conduct testing for COVID-19 if you are COVID asymptomatic.
Testing will be done at drive-through locations that are listed below in Muskoka on days and at times indicated. You do NOT need an appointment to be tested at one of these drive-through locations. Drive-through wait times will vary depending on volumes.
Individuals must wear a mask and bring a valid health card. If you are travelling in from outside of the Muskoka region, you can still get tested at your local COVID-19 Assessment Centre before you make your trip. Please consider that your first option for testing.
When you arrive at one of these drive-through testing locations, follow instructions provided on all signs and those of community paramedics. Remain in your vehicle at all times and proceed to the testing tent only when advised to do so.
There may be line-ups so please be patient as the paramedics are committed to having you tested. Paramedics do stop for a short period around lunch time for a well-deserved break so you may experience a longer delay during this time.
Drive-through operations may, on short notice, be discontinued immediately if inclement weather approaches or it is unsafe to continue. Your understanding is appreciated.
Testing is still available by appointment for symptomatic people and asymptomatic people by calling your primary care provider or the Muskoka Assessment Centre at 1-888-383-7009.
Ontario has released the COVID-19 Test Results Viewer that allows you to check your results online. The Assessment Centres/Community Paramedics do not have test results nor do they control the length of time it takes to process COVID tests. You will receive detailed information about how to get your test results when you arrive at the drive-through or the Assessment Centres.
Drive-through locations
Huntsville:
Dates: August 7 and August 19
Location: Canada Summit Centre – 20 Park Drive, Huntsville
Time: 10:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Lake of Bays (Dwight):
Date: August 25
Location: Dwight Community Centre – 1014 Dwight Beach Road, Dwight
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Bracebridge:
Date: August 11 and August 26
Location: Bracebridge Sportsplex – 110 Clearbrook Trail, Bracebridge
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Gravenhurst:
Dates: August 12 and August 27
Location: Gravenhurst Centennial Centre – 101 Centennial Drive, Gravenhurst
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Georgian Bay:
Date: August 20
Location: Baxter Ward Community Centre – 25 Community Centre Drive, Port Severn
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Muskoka Lakes:
Date: August 5
Location: Bala Sportspark – 3224 Highway 169, Bala
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Date: August 6
Location: Port Carling Arena – 3 Bailey Street, Port Carling
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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Somebody clue us all in a bit here. If you are asymptomatic, you have “no symptoms” so you would to all intents and reasonableness, be a “normal” person. So what clues would you look for to justify getting tested?
I’m wondering if one just goes because for some unknown reason one feels the need, or is the goal more to test everyone, which would be nice but has been proven to be impossible to do to date.
I also wonder about testing as one could be tested today and by some magic get the test result in a few minutes but then one could catch the virus an hour later and with no significant symptoms showing maybe for two weeks or possibly ever, one could be a pretty active spreader. The testing would seemingly not do anything about such a situation.
On the other hand, waiting until one has symptoms, can’t breath, etc. kind of makes the test a bit superfluous as the doctors would pretty well know you had the virus by that point even without a test.
I see the value of testing more as a sort of general guide to authorities with respect to where the virus is active. If perhaps we tested an honest sample across the country that put the number of tests fairly proportionate to the population density then I could see that maybe the number of positive tests would indicate geographic areas where the virus is more of less present. Although useful generally this kind of data would tell very little about individual cases however.
So at the end of the day, I’m left wondering how testing helps? If I should get a test? What would be an indicator for me to get a test? Do these techy phone aps confer any useful decision making data here and if so how do we use them?
I’d really like a bit more of a reasoned explanation of all this for those of us who are not doctors. All I can do now is wear my mask, carry my measuring tape, wash a lot and heck you don’t even know if I’m smiling under that mask.!