COVID-19 test results in Kenora available within 48 hours

If you get a COVID-19 swab done at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) in Kenora, you can expect results to come back within 48 hours.

"We're now getting test results within 24 to 48 hours, rather than the five to six days that we were receiving from Toronto," said Ray Racette, the president and CEO of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital."So, we really appreciate the approval."

Racette said the hospital expects to have about 200 test kits for its own use, which can then be processed in the hospital lab, delivering results within 45 minutes.

Thunder Bay's Regional Health Sciences Centre received only 60 of the test kits.

The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) said it was pleased with the rate of testing taking place in its jurisdiction, with over 700 COVID-19 tests complete. Nearly 500 results have come back as negative, with only 10 confirmed cases in its catchment area.

Gemmill said the northwestern part of the province hasnot been hit by a large outbreak of COVID-19, which is good news, but emphasized social distancing, and keeping travel to a minimum was important.

More beds

Racette said the LWDHwas working to increase the number of beds in the facility, for a surge of patients that could happen within the next two weeks.

He said the hospital has around 70 beds, but was trying to increase that figure to 90. He said the hospital was looking at a variety of options, including using cots, if needed.

Racette said LWDH was working with Pinecrest Nursing Home in Kenora to put hospital patients, who were waiting for beds to open in the long-term care home, in a separate wing of that building.He said that would free up 8 beds at the hospital.