Effective April 11, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) is closing the COVID-19 testing clinic at 29 Sperling Dr., in Barrie.
“The decision to close the clinic is due to decrease in demand for community PCR tests,” says Sharon Ramagnano, RVH operations director, emergency, critical care, trauma and Sperling COVID assessment centre.
“In addition, RVH is following the current Ontario Ministry of Health direction which no longer requires hospital staff to have a PCR test if they have COVID symptoms," she added.
Ramagnano said clinic staff will be relocated to the COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic which is still operating at 29 Sperling Dr.
As of Monday, April 3, operation of the COVID-19 immunization clinic at 29 Sperling transferred to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit from RVH.
And in late March, after more than two years of operation, RVH ended its role as a COVID vaccine provider and turned over responsibility of the immunization clinic, located at 29 Sperling to the local health unit.
RVH has played a key role in the testing of hospital staff and local residents for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Testing started as a drive-thru service on RVH’s property and then, in September 2020, moved to 29 Sperling.
Since 2020, more than 270,000 tests have been completed through RVH’s clinic.
People requiring a PCR test can still book one at participating pharmacies by clicking here.
