Residents went to the Centretown Community Health Centre flu assessment clinic over the weekend.
Centretown’s flu assessment centres received far fewer visitors than expected over the weekend, but health officials said they aren't sure why.
Both Centretown Community Health Centre and Somerset West Community Health Centre are prepared to assess up to 150 people per day. But just 58 people in total were assessed by both centres over the weekend.
People may not realize that assessment centres are open on weekends, said Simone Thibault, executive director of Centretown Community Health Centre.
“We need to get the message out there that we are open for business from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends,” said Thibault.
Jack McCarthy, executive director of Somerset West Community Health Centre, agreed that lack of communication between health-care providers and community members could be a reason why fewer people came to the clinic over the weekend.
But another reason could be that fewer people are getting sick because assessment centres coupled with vaccinations are working to slow the pandemic, said McCarthy.
Both centres reported that just 13 people out of all those assessed over the weekend were serious enough to be referred to other health care providers.
Although fewer people are being assessed, both centres are urging people with two or more flu-like symptoms and a fever to go to their nearest assessment centre.
Thibault said now is a very good time to get assessed.
“Because the centres have been less busy than expected there have been no lineups to receive treatment,” she said.
Both community centres announced changes their services to accommdate the flu assessement clinics. The Somerset West centre plans to cancel non-urgent visits. The Centretown site plans to move some services off-site and encourages residents to call to confirm that their programs haven't been cancelled.
There are no definite answers yet as to why fewer people are coming in, said McCarthy. But he said good communication between the clinics and Ottawa Public Health has him hopeful that answers should come soon.