Alberta Health Service’s opened a COVID-19 assessment centre in Okotoks this week, shortly after closing one approximately 25 kilometres to the south.
The Okotoks assessment centre opened on Sept. 16 and is located at 201 Southridge Drive, the former Natural Foods Market.
The High River assessment centre closed on Sept. 11, with those assessment services moving to Okotoks, starting Sept. 16.
“The reason for the relocation of these assessment services to Okotoks is due to changing demand,” a press release from AHS stated.
“There has been a decrease in demand in High River. It is anticipated that with the larger population in Okotoks there will be greater demand for testing.”
A centre in High River was opened in the spring after an outbreak at nearby Cargill Foods, just north of that community.
As of Sept. 16 the AHS website indicates there were five reported active cases in High River. In Okotoks, it was a reported 10 active cases.
The Okotoks assessment centre will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to Friday, by appointment only.
The demand for testing in the Calgary area remains high. Anyone who wants to be tested should go to www.ahs.ca/covid to book an appointment.
The AHS online tool continues to be the most efficient and convenient means of booking your testing appointment through AHS.
The online tool provides you with appointments for testing at all AHS assessment centre locations that have testing availability, within 75 kilometres from the postal code you enter. We also continue to work with pharmacies, which are adding additional capacity for asymptomatic testing.
Alberta Health Services continually evaluates the services provided as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and adjusts them as needed.
(Information from Alberta Health Services)
