Long lines as Saskatoon drive-through COVID-19 testing site opens its doors

You don’t need to call 811, or to set up an appointment in advance.

What you will likely end up doing, though, is waiting for at least an hour, if you head to Saskatoon’s drive-through COVID-19 test site.

Located at 3630 Thatcher Ave., across from SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon’s testing site looks a bit like an airplane hangar with two large garages for drivers to enter.

The line along Thatcher Avenue on the first day stretched all the way to 60th Street West, around the corner onto the street, and nearly back to Highway 11.

Saskatoon COVID-19 drive-through testing site.
(Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

Drivers — some with significant others, some with children in tow, and others alone — waited patiently for their turn.

Ethan Moore and his partner lined up around 11:45 a.m. and said they’d waited at least an hour before getting close to the testing site.

“(The line) has been slow-moving, but we’re excited to get it over with,” Moore said.

“We did a little trip a couple of days ago and now we’re just doing it to be safe,” he continued. “We don’t want to be the ones that start another spike in the city. And yeah, (we’re) just doing our part to be responsible, you know?”

As drivers moved up in line, they were divided into two lines to drive into the two large garage-type entrances.

Once there, they were directed to a parking stall to wait for someone to take their information and for a nurse dressed in mask, visor, gloves and gown to take a swab.

After the test was completed, drivers could simply exit the building and be on their way.

The drive-through centre is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 7:15 p.m. and on weekends from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.