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COVID-19 testing clinic to open on Thursday at UPEI

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Image of COVID-19 swab
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Health PEI will open a COVID-19 testing clinic on the UPEI campus on Thursday, December 10, 2020, from 9 am–6 pm.

The testing clinic is primarily for students, faculty, and staff from 20–29 years of age, but will also be available to anyone from the greater Charlottetown area in that age group.

The testing clinic will be located in the gymnasium at the UPEI Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. It will be accessible via the back doors that enter gym #3, near MacLauchlan Arena, and opposite the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering Building and Central Utility Building. There will be no access to the testing clinic from the front doors of the Sports Centre.

The testing clinic will operate on a first come-first serve basis, so individuals are asked to be patient and be prepared to wait. There will be no washroom facilities available.

When you come to the testing site

  • For UPEI students and employees: Bring your PEI personal health card AND your student/employee ID card
  • For all other individuals in the 20–29 age group: Bring an ID with your home address AND your student ID card
  • Wear a mask
  • You may be asked to sanitize your hands upon entry to the site
  • You must social distance (2 metres/6 feet apart) from other people while awaiting testing
  • A staff person will meet you at the entrance and talk you through the procedure step by step
  • Testers will have masks, gowns, and gloves on
The test
  • The COVID-19 test is done with a swab similar to a long Q-tip. The test takes about 10 seconds. It can feel like a scratch in the back of the throat and nose, and may make your eyes water.
  • This Q-tip will be placed in a sterile bottle, labelled with your name, health number, and date of birth, and will be sent from the testing site to the provincial laboratory. 
More information from the PEI Chief Public Health Office
 
The PEI Chief Public Health Office is asking individuals 20–29 years of age living in the greater Charlottetown area who live with multiple roommates in the same age group, work in a crowded setting with others in this age group (such as the fast food industry), or who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to get tested as soon as possible. 
 
Individuals in this age group who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 can wait a few days to be tested to help reduce demand on testing clinics. People in this age category do not need to self-isolate before or after getting tested while awaiting results. They can attend work or school.

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested immediately and self-isolate until results are received. 

In addition to the drop-in testing sites, individuals can also book scheduled appointments online.

While every effort will be made to return test results as quickly as possible, people should expect to wait at least 72 hours to receive negative results through My Test Results, the negative test result portal. Anyone who tests positive will be called directly. People with questions can call the COVID-19 toll free number at 1-833-533-9333.

Media Contact

Nicole Phillips
Director of Communications and University Relations
Marketing and Communications
902-566-0947

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