The temporary assessment centre in Brooks. (CHAT News Today)

By David Opinko

Brooks hosting “asymptomatic testing” events in wake of COVID-19 outbreaks

Apr 28, 2020 | 2:30 PM

BROOKS, AB – No community in Southern Alberta has been more heavily impacted by COVID-19 than Brooks and they are looking to do something about it.

As of Monday’s update, 581 people in Brooks had tested positive for COVID-19 and two had died.

The entire South Health Zone, which includes areas such as Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, had a total of 643 cases, meaning 90 per cent of all cases in the region are in Brooks.

As of the 2016 federal census, the City of Brooks had a population of 14,451.

A temporary assessment centre has been established at 4 Gun Club Road, the Jaycee Welding building, just north of the community.

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Chief Zone Officer for Alberta Health Services’ South Zone Dr. Katherine Chubbs says they are holding an asymptomatic testing event at the centre for anyone in the community who is not yet showing any symptoms but wants to see if they might have contracted the virus.

It has been shown that it takes at least a few days for COVID-19 symptoms to appear.

“We tested 973 cases yesterday, trending about the same today.”

This is in addition to the 200+ tests that were conducted at the Brooks Health Centre for those who do have symptoms.

This is a sharp increase from last week where Dr. Chubbs said they averaged about 107 tests per day.

She believes part of the reason so many are voluntarily getting tested is because they are concerned about the virus’ spread in the community, but perhaps an even bigger part is that the message about COVID-19 and getting tested has been so effective.

“I think the messaging is out there, I think it’s hopefully resonating. There’s so many partners involved and we’re working with our various representatives across the city and people who speak different languages so we’re getting into populations where the message might have been a bit harder to get into.”

When COVID-19 first came into Canada, Mayor Barry Morishita says everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before Brooks was impacted, but nobody could have predicted that it would be there to this level.

He commended everyone who is working at the testing sites and helping to get the word out.

“At the end of the day, it’s a personal responsibility to self-isolate, to social distance, to be aware of what you’re doing and how you could be spreading it unknowingly. The more we know and more empowered people are to take on that responsibility, the better off we’ll be.”

More information on Brook’s temporary assessment centre can be found here.

The City of Brooks has also opened up Community Isolation Centres for close contacts of people who are confirmed to have contracted the virus.

“Unique housing situations, such as multi-generational households or overcrowded homes, make it difficult for some residents to self-isolate,” reads a media release from the City of Brooks. “The goal of these centres is to protect those who may be more vulnerable, support business continuity for workplaces and limit the spread of COVID-19.”

“Members of the Community Response Committee will provide transportation, meals, translation services if needed, and daily check-ins daily to ensure the overall wellbeing of those in isolation.”

Referrals to the Community Isolation Centres will be made by AHS.