New drive-thru coronavirus testing centre in Hamilton

Beginning on Friday, the city will offer a drive-thru style testing service at the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena. The testing site will be open between Friday and Sunday, from the hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A referral from a doctor or public health worker will be required in order to qualify for a test at the centre.

The family health teams of Hamilton and McMaster will take charge of staffing and of operating the testing site with primary care physicians.

This latest centre being set up is in addition to the COVID-19 assessment centres that were previously available in the city's east and west ends. These will remain open as well and have ample supplies to keep testing. Since they were initially opened on March 16, those two centres have seen 2,850 people and 2,270 tests have been completed.

"Increased COVID-19 testing is an important initiative to help in the management of the disease in our community," wrote the centre in a press release.

"Everyone is encouraged to continue following public health recommendations around physical distancing, frequent hand washing and covering your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or a tissue."

On Wednesday, Hamilton had 271 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 10 deaths and 123 recoveries. Of those cases, 38 required hospitalization and 39 were people staying in long-term care facilities.

On Tuesday, the city announced that 261 new cases had been confirmed and 119 people were said to have recovered.