Durham Region launches mobile COVID-19 testing clinic

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region Transit (DRT) and Region of Durham Paramedic Services (RDPS) are working together; doing their part in the fight against COVID-19. Thorough collaboration, and a dedication to the health and safety of our community members, the team has launched an innovative mobile COVID-19 testing clinic.

Since the start of the pandemic, RDPS have been providing testing at various locations in Durham Region. With physical testing space becoming harder to obtain, and the weather turning cold, there was a need to secure a more permanent space.

The result: a mobile clinic—which is staffed by at least two paramedics, operated by a trained DRT operator, and maintained by DRT mechanics—that offers safe and secure testing, of up to 30 people per hour, at key locations identified by Durham Region Public Health.

The mobile clinic can provide on-site testing at schools, long-term care homes, workplaces and can reach vulnerable populations who have limited access to a testing site. It also has capacity to add additional paramedics, if needed.

While the clinic is currently focused on COVID-19 testing, the goal is to transform it into a place where RDPS will be able to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

Durham Region Transit, Region of Durham Paramedic Services and Durham Region Public Health have worked together to break new ground and ensure the mobile COVID-19 testing clinic is safe and secure for all residents. CAREA CHC and Lakeridge Health have also collaborated on this initiative to help increase access for testing throughout Durham Region.

Quotes:

“We are grateful to our paramedics, who have been working tirelessly throughout this pandemic. This is an amazing partnership, between DRT and the RDPS, that uses a forward-thinking approach, to quickly and effectively deploy testing services to those who may not be able to otherwise get to a testing site. This is another way we are working to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer

“Region of Durham Paramedic Services is proud to be launching this initiative with Durham Region Transit to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This mobile clinic is essential and will safely bring testing and vaccinations to hard-to-reach communities that may not be able to get to a COVID-19 Assessment Centre.”

 - Troy Cheseboro, Chief of Region of Durham Paramedic Services

“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with RDPS to provide this great community service. We are thankful to our paramedics for their continuous efforts throughout these unprecedented times, especially being out there in the community, day in and day out; providing assistance to those who need it most.”

- Bill Holmes, General Manager of Durham Region Transit

The mobile testing clinic will operate up to seven days a week.

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