Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and the city have partnered to relocate Orillia’s COVID-19 assessment centre to Rotary Place in an effort to better serve those seeking tests.

Hospital president and CEO Carmine Stumpo said the move addresses two major challenges.

“It enables us to provide service indoors during the colder winter months ahead, and it offers adequate parking that is needed under the new ‘appointments only-based’ model mandated by the province late last week,” Stumpo said.

The assessment centre previously operated on a walk-in basis, accommodating requests as patients drove up to the centre that was located on the hospital property.   

The move to Rotary Place takes effect Oct. 6 and will alleviate the lengthy vehicle lineups that snaked through hospital neighbourhoods as people waited hours for a test.   

Hospital staff  will continue to run the centre and maintain the same operating hours, from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 11 a.m. until 2:30 pm on weekends and holidays.  

“We’re very grateful to the city and emergency management leaders for their collaboration in making this space available on short notice,” said Stumpo.  

The sports facility was chosen for its ample parking, dedicated entry and exit, a large ice surface for testing, and separation of the assessment centre from the rest of the building to allow for regularly scheduled recreation programming to continue.

(The health unit approved the use of Rotary Place as an assessment centre in conjunction with regular programming.)

Mayor Steve Clarke said the municipality was pleased to support the hospital and facilitate the move.

“Both of our teams have been working diligently in short order to make the move possible so that the assessment centre can continue to meet the needs of our community,” Clarke added.

Appointments can be booked online or by phone.

To book online, go to or

The telephone booking line is in the process of being established and the number will be shared as soon as it is available.

Visitors to the assessment centre are asked not to enter Rotary Place at the main entrance. but to follow the signs and use the dedicated entrance at the side of the building.