New mobile COVID-19 testing site opens in Winnipeg

A new mobile testing site for COVID-19 is now open in Winnipeg.

The new mobile site comes after public concerns over high testing volumes and testing accessibility. Last week, the Government of Manitoba announced they were partnering with Dynacare to open a new mobile testing unit. Set to open on Monday, it has now opened two days later.

The unit is running out of a large RV. It is open from eight a.m. to four p.m. seven days a week. The province says it will add immediate additional capacity in Winnipeg while new drive-thru sites are set up in the city. The site will be moved to communities that require additional testing, immediately. It is currently located in a parking lot 1181 Portage Avenue.

With traffic cones and caution tape arranged to create a line, traffic directors are asking those testing to wait in their vehicles.

Across the city, more testing locations will be added to deal with the spike in cases. The province is setting up a drive-in location in east Winnipeg on Regent Avenue West, one in the Polo Park area on King Edward Street and one in the south part of the city. They say they will add a fourth if needed.

Drive-thru sites will also be opening in Brandon, Winkler, Portage and Dauphin in the upcoming weeks but the province does not have any more information to provide at this point.