Assessment Centres

No. If you are in distress (e.g., significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), do not go to the Assessment Centre. Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.

If you are symptomatic do not need emergency care, please quarantine and book an appointment at a testing site.

1. Book an appointment online if possible at www.HamiltonCovidTest.ca
   New appointments will come online as they become available.
   We are sorry if there are currently few or no appointments available to book online and we kindly ask our community to:
   - Check the website again in a few hours. We releaseany appointments available for booking online as they are identified.
   - Refrain from calling Public Health when there are no appointments available to book online. The appointments available via phoneare minimal and are reserved for community members with accessibility needs or who do not have access to the internet.

2. If you do not have access to book online, call the COVID Support Service Centre operated by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton at (289) 778-1465
   *If you have questions regarding ability issues and transportation to assessment centres, you must call to book your appointment.

Assessment Centres will only test those who fall within the Ontario provincial guidelines. This includes individuals who:

• are showing COVID-19 symptoms
• have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by Hamilton Public Health Services or notified through the COVID Alert app
• are a resident or work in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as informed by Hamilton Public Health Services
• are a resident or work in an at-risk setting, such as a long-term care home, homeless shelter or other congregate setting
• Some individuals having surgery/procedure at Hamilton Health Sciences or St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton may also require a COVID-19 test. Your care team will inform you if this is required

Do not seek testing at an assessment centre if you are not symptomatic, and do not fit other criteria. It is important that we test those who have the greatest risk of having and spreading the virus.

• Bring your Ontario health card and a list of your current medications. Wait times will depend on patient volume.

• Yes. The COVID-19 Assessment Centres and Testing Centre can test both children and adults who have appointments. Do not bring your child if they are well and do not need to be tested.
• All COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centres will test people of all ages (except those under three months), including children.

• Children under three (3) months of age requiring a COVID test must go to the Emergency Department at McMaster Children's Hospital to be assessed and be tested. The Emergency Department at McMaster Children's Hospital is open 24 hours a day and is located at 1200 Main St West, Hamilton. Please do not book a COVID test online for a child under three (3) months of age. Call your healthcare provider if you have questions about testing a child under three (3) months of age for COVID-19. 

• The test involves taking a sample from the back of the nasal cavity with a swab.
• Information about how to manage symptoms and next steps will be provided.

• You can get test results on the provincial online portal.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe care and work environment in the COVID-19 Assessment Centres, visitors who are not being tested will not be allowed to join patients in the Assessment Centre with the following exceptions:

• An adult accompanying a child who is a patient, a frail older person, a person with a disability
• Anyone acting as an interpreter

For those visiting the drive-through Testing Centre, please do not bring individuals in the vehicle who do not have an appointment (with the exception of those outlined above).

The safety of all staff, physicians, volunteers, students, patients, families and visitors remains a top priority. All patients visiting the COVID-19 Assessment Centres will be required to wear the mask provided and use the hand sanitizer prior to entering the facility.

• Areas for screening and assessment will be kept separate to reduce the risk of spreading infection.
• Everyone will be asked to sanitize their hands and put on a mask at the Centre entrance.
• Please also be mindful to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Yes. Your personal health information is protected under Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
• The following information will be reported on the Ministry of Health of Ontario’s website:
  • Patient age and gender
  • Public Health Unit
  • Hospital involved
  • Type of transmission
  • Status (e.g. home isolation)

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms but have no known exposure to COVID-19

• Self-quarantine in your home away from others while you are waiting for test results. Practice physical distancing, frequent handwashing and clean commonly used surfaces in the home. Read more about self-isolating  

If Public Health has identified you as a close contact of a COVID-19 confirmed positive person identified by Public Health, whether you have or do not have COVID-19 symptoms

• Continue to follow the advice provided to you by public health regarding self-isolation.

If you do not have symptoms and have not been knowingly exposed to COVID-19

• You do not need to quarantine. However, you should practice physical distancing by keeping 2 metres from others, wash hands often with soap and water, and monitor yourself for COVDI019 symptoms.    

What to do while you’re waiting for COVID-19 test results

If you were tested at the West End Assessment Centre:

1. Check the provincial online portal to get your COVID-19 test results. You will need your health card number to access these results. It may take up to 7 days for your results to appear online.
2. If the online portal indicates your test results are unavailable, contact your family doctor to ask if they can look up your result on Clinical Connect. Due to high volumes, lab results  may take 3 – 5 days or sometimes more to appear on Clinical Connect.
3. If you need a copy sent by mail or secure email, contact Hamilton Health Sciences Health Records Release of Information team:
   Phone: 905- 521-2100
   Dial ext. 75133 if you have a January to June birthdate
   Dial ext. 75123 if you have a July to December birthdate
   Fax: 905-528-3828
   Email: [email protected]

• You will need to submit a to Consent for Email Correspondence form and a Consent to Disclose Personal Health Information form to receive your test results. Access forms and read about what information you need to provide to receive test results
• Provide a daytime phone number to reach you, as staff must contact you by phone to validate your identity prior to sending results. Allow up to two business days for a response. Health Records staff cannot discuss the content of your test results over the phone.
• The Release of Information Department is open 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday only.

If you were tested at the East End Assessment Centre, or the St. Joe’s Mountain Testing Centre:

1. Sign up for the patient portal MyDovetale. On the right side you will see three age group options, select the one that applies to you. eMyDovetale will provide you the quickest access to your test results. You will receive a notification as soon they become available and can print the results. If you need help, email [email protected].
2. Check the provincial online portal to get your COVID-19 test results. You will need your health card number to access these results. It may take up to 7 days for your results to appear online.
3. If the online portal indicates your test results are unavailable, contact your family doctor to ask if they can look up your result on Clinical Connect. Due to high volumes, lab results may take 3 - 5 days and sometimes more to appear on Clinical Connect.
4. If you are unable to register for a MyDovetale account or you would like to receive a copy of your results via secure email, email us at [email protected]. In your email, include your full name, date of birth, date of your test and daytime phone number where you can be reached. You may only request your own records. If you are requesting on behalf of others, you need to provide their daytime phone number or request they send their consent to [email protected], referencing your request. We will not discuss your results over the phone.

Hamilton Public Health Services will only follow-up with you by phone or text message if you test positive for COVID-19. The text message will look like:

It's important to remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

If you receive a positive test result

• Continue to self-isolate and Public Health will will reach out to you via phone or text within 24 hours. If you need to speak to someone more immediately, call the Public Health Services COVID-19 hotline at 905-974-9848.

If you receive a negative test result

• If you have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should continue quarantining for the remainder of the time required as a contact of a confirmed case.  If your symptoms persist or worsen, contact your doctor or public health so that re-testing can be considered. For those who had previously been instructed by public health to isolate, you should remain in isolation for the remainder of the required 14 days.
• If you have not had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, tested negative but still have symptoms: continue to quarantine until you are feeling well (i.e. your symptoms have resolved).  If your symptoms persist or worsen, contact your doctor or public health to discuss next steps. 
• If you have not had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, tested negative and have no symptoms: you can resume your normal activities, including returning to work.

• If your test comes back negative, but you begin to develop COVID-19 symptoms, even if they're mild, you need to be re-tested. This is important so we can all protect the health and safety of our loved ones and our community from whatever infection you may have.

For pending test results

• If your test results indicate they are indeterminate, pending or in progress, your test has not yet been completed.  As such, please check back later for your test results. 

No. The Assessment Centres and Testing Centre have been established strictly to screen and assess patients for COVID-19. Notes for employment or other purposes will not be provided by physicians or other clinical staff.

If you are missing work because you are self-isolating, caring for a child or family member, or your employer has reduced staff or hours, you may be eligible for financial supports.

• The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB):
  • Benefit: $500 per week; 26 weeks maximum
  • Eligibility: Unable to work 50% of scheduled work week because you are caring for a child under 12 or family member due to COVID-related closure, family member being sick with COVID-19, or at risk of serious complications from COVID-19, or self-isolating; do not receive other benefits (e.g. EI, Canada Recovery Benefit, Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, disability, etc.); other conditions apply
• Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB):
  • Benefit: $500 per week; two weeks maximum
  • Eligibility: Unable to work 50% of scheduled work week due to self-isola­tion; do not receive other benefits (e.g. EI, Canada Recovery Benefit, Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, disability, etc.); other conditions apply
• Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB):
  • Benefit: $1,000 for a two-week period
  • Eligibility: Not employed or self-employed due to COVID-19; 50% reduction in weekly income compared to previous year due to COVID-19; do not receive other benefits (e.g. EI, Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, disability, etc.); other conditions apply

Find more information about financial support 

Effective December 11, 2020, individuals requiring a COVID-19 test for international travel clearance are no longer eligible for a publicly funded COVID-19 test in Ontario.

International travellers are recommended to consult their travel carrier's guidelines to ensure they have the most up-to-date information. You should also refer to the to the federal government's travel restrictions, exemptions and advice page for up-to-date expectations and requirements related to their destination. If a COVID-19 test is required, it is important to leave ample time for testing and to receive results. Travellers in need of a test can access private testing facilities such as a travel clinic.

More information for travellers