Eastern Health has opened a respiratory assessment clinic in the metro region to assess and treat patients with coughs and other respiratory symptoms.

The clinic, which opened at 50 Mundy Pond Road on Monday, is taking patients by referral through 811. People experiencing respiratory symptoms are asked to complete an online self-assessment which must be completed before calling 811.

Patients will then be scheduled for an appointment at a respiratory assessment clinic, or a COVID-19 testing site.

Health Minister John Haggie says it’s all in response to flu season and an increase in coughs, colds and other respiratory illness this time of year.

He says the clinic will be assessed with the possibility of expanding into other areas.

Haggie says it’s most feasible in more populous regions and they’re using this clinic as a “demonstration project” to determine whether it can be introduced in other major centres.