Reports

The Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) is operating a COVID-19 Assessment Centre. BCHU does not do in-person testing. Please contact the Brant Community Healthcare System to arrange for testing. You can also take a self-assessment to help you decide if you need a test. Please note, the BCHS Assessment Centre will no longer be taking walk-in appointments as of Friday, October 2, 2020. To book an appointment, please follow instructions as set by BCHS.

Effective September 24, Ontarians should only seek testing at assessment centres if they are:

• showing COVID-19 symptoms;
  
• have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by BCHU or exposure notification through the COVID Alert app;
  
• a resident or work in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified and informed by BCHU; and
• eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

If you meet one of the above criteria, please contact the Brant Community Healthcare System to arrange for testing.

Starting on September 25, you can get tested for COVID-19 at select pharmacies if you are not showing symptoms and eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

After you have been tested, please refer to our COVID-19 Post Test Informationsheet.

Long-term care home visits
COVID-19 testing is no longer required prior to outdoor visits with residents at long-term care homes. Such visits will still follow safety protocols, such as employing physical distancing measures and using a face covering. As well, up to two visitors may attend such visits, if available spacing allows for this to be done safely.

In-home visits at long-term care homes, not facing outbreaks, will continue with conditions to protect residents, visitors and staff. Up to two visitors may attend such visits, if available spacing allows for this to be done safely. For indoor visits, visitors must attest to home staff that the visitor has tested negative for COVID-19 within the previous two weeks and subsequently not tested positive. The home is not responsible for providing the testing.

Travel-related testing at assessment centres
As an interim measure, travelers who are asymptomatic and require a test to confirm that they do not have COVID-19 before travelling internationally can visit an Assessment Centre or make an appointment at a participating pharmacy.  As ministry guidance is updated, it will be posted on the ministry website.

To find a convenient location to obtain a COVID-19 test at an Assessment Centre or Pharmacy please visit the online Ontario COVID-19 testing location. The finder will continue to be updated as additional Assessment Centres and pharmacies rollout.

Isolation timelines depend on when the person was exposed, if they had symptoms, if they got tested, why they are isolating, and whether they are a close contact or a low-risk contact. The Brant County Health Unit contacts everyone who tests positive and provides them with guidelines for how long they and everyone in their household needs to be isolating.

If someone with symptoms gets tested:

Everyone in the household needs to self-isolate while that person is waiting for their test results.

If you also have symptoms, please complete the Ontario Self-Assessment Tool to determine your next steps. Your child should complete the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Children in School and Child Care.

If the individual tests negative:

• If the individual has symptoms but tests negative, they can stop isolating once they have been symptom-free for 24 hours.  
• Everyone else in the household can stop isolating when the negative result is received.

If the individual tests positive:

• Someone from the Brant County Health Unit will contact the individual and will let them know how long everyone in their household needs to be isolating. The 14 days of isolation will be based on the date the symptoms started.

If someone gets tested for an exposure:

If the individual is a close or high risk contact:

• If the individual has been told by the Brant County Health Unit that they are a close or high risk contact, then the Brant County Health Unit Case Manager will let them know when the isolation period for everyone in their household is over.
  

If the individual is a low risk contact:

• If the individual is a low-risk contact or received notification from the COVID Alert App and tests negative, then everyone in their household needs to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days from which the notification was received and seek re-testing if symptoms develop.

If the individual tests positive:

Someone from the Brant County Health Unit will contact the individual and will let them know how long everyone in their household needs to be isolating. The 14 days of isolation will be based on the date the symptoms started.

If you test negative for COVID-19, you did not have detectable virus at the time your sample was collected. This does not mean you will not get sick. It also does not mean that you will not be exposed to, test positive for or become sick with COVID-19 at any time after your test. 

The test result only means that you did not have detectable COVID-19 at the time of testing.

The significance of a positive test if you have never had symptoms is still unknown. You will have to self-isolate for 10 days from your test date and monitor for symptoms as directed by BCHU.

BCHU will conduct case and contact management.