Residents with transportation issues offered free rides to COVID-19 clinic

Transportation offered to COVID-19 testing centre From CTV Kitchener's Nicole Lampa: People running the COVID-19 assessment and testing center in Waterloo are offering transportation.

WATERLOO — Those running the COVID-19 assessment and testing centre in Waterloo are offering a service that is making a big difference.

Mohamed teamed up with an area doctor to create the assessment centre, and originally rented a private limo service, but had no way to get there himself.

The K-W 4 Community Assessment Centre has since purchased vehicles to transport people to be tested.

"They are ex-ambulances," said clinic owner Rex Mohammed. "We’ve bought two of those and we are transporting at no cost."

The method is done in order to prevent the spread of the virus on public transit. Nearly 60 people have been transported to and from the clinic so far.

The vehicles are sanitized after each patient and drivers are required to wear PPE.

Mohammed’s wife had stepped in as a driver until Thursday.

"My wife is in the hospital right now," he said. "She was picked up by an ambulance this morning with chest pains, and my daughter is showing some signs."

"It’s not going to stop us. We’ll continue servicing whatever it takes."

Linda Roult has tested for COVID-19 and says the ride is greatly appreciated.

"It was a big relief because otherwise I would have to walk here, which is quite a long ways," she said. "Or I would have had not had a test, which is not good."

The Waterloo assessment centre on Westmount Road is open for general population testing, but is still by referral only.