LETTER

Covid-19 testing in Gatineau 

Quebec deals with covid testing outside of the Montreal area - by ignoring it.

I live in Gatineau;  my mother is a long-term care resident in Ottawa and for me to have visiting privileges, I will have to be tested for covid-19, and test negative, prior to June 24.

Quebec’s website  on covid says, call 1-877-644-4545.  I called June 12;  the clerk had no clue on where to go, but said she’d call me back.  It is now Monday, June 15, (7 pm), with no call.

Another problem with this number is, if they return your call, the call goes right into voice mail and they leave a message.  Your phone does not ring.  They don’t want to speak to anyone?

I emailed the Régie de l’assurance maladie for information.  They did respond, right into my voice mail, telling me to call 1-877-644-4545! The home where my mother resides gave me the Ontario Telehealth line and I was speaking to an actual person who said a nurse would call me.  She called within an hour and told me to go to one of their covid clinics in Ottawa. 

The service from Ottawa is exceptional, and I am not a resident.  The service from Quebec, scale of 1 to 10, is a -0.

Diane Paquette, Gatineau