A line of cars on Sixth Avenue E. waiting to access the drive-thru testing site. (Alison Sandstrom)

By Alison Sandstrom

COVID-19

Prince Albert’s drive-thru testing site busy for first day

Dec 2, 2020 | 11:21 AM

Update: As of 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, SHA advised that anymore in the lineup beyond a truck with flashing lights located at the intersection of Eighth St. E and Sixth Ave. E. would likely not be seen today.

In an email to paNOW, SHA said in part: “Anyone in line, but further away than the truck with lights flashing, [is] asked to come back another day but to stay home if experiencing symptoms.”

The drive-thru test site reopens at 8:30 a.m. and is open seven days a week until 4 p.m.

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Prince Albert’s drive-thru testing site is now open.

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Around 75 cars were in line for the service when paNOW visited at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.

A Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) spokesperson could not immediately say how long wait times were.

(Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

The SHA has previously said to expect wait times at the site.

“As first-come, first served sites, the public should expect some wait times at the drive-thru, due to possible demand for services and the protocols that need to be followed to ensure safety for everyone,” the SHA said in a media release.

Later in the morning paNOW heard from one person who said they had been waiting on Sixth Ave. E. for 55 minutes and had not moved since they arrived just after 10 a.m.

During the municipal election, the City used a portable digital sign to indicate approximate wait times at drive-thru voting. There was no indication a similar sign was in use on Wednesday morning.

Please feel free to share your experience with drive-thru testing on our Facebook page.

A line of cars outside the drive-thru testing site. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

How to access the site

The site is located at The Cone Shop Car Wash at 890 Sixth Ave. E. and operates seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Referrals are not required. Those seeking testing must have their health cards with them and anyone under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult.

Everyone in each vehicle accessing testing should be members of the same family or family bubble. As long as everyone in the vehicle has a valid Saskatchewan Health Card, everybody can get a test during the same visit.

Prince Albert’s previous test site continues to operate with appointments booked through 8-1-1 or a physician.

More information on testing is available here.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom