Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is expanding access to COVID-19 testing and is urging anyone with symptoms to get tested.
Anyone with cold, influenza or COVID-19-like symptoms, however mild, can get a COVID-19 test.
In Squamish, testing is available at the Squamish General Hospital, which can be coordinated through a family doctor.
In Whistler, testing is delivered on site at Whistler Diagnostic and Treatment Centre. The family practitioner, including Nurse Practitioners, can coordinate that for those who would like to get testing done.
“A good first call is always to your family practitioner. Their offices are open (with the exception of the Squamish Walk in Clinic, which remains open only on weekends) and their staff and the practitioners are available to meet your healthcare needs, whether via virtual care (secure video link or a simple phone call) or, if a face to face visit is deemed medically necessary, one can generally be arranged,” said Monica McDonald, Executive Director of the Sea to Sky Division of Family Practice Society.
Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses including the common cold. They include: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, painful swallowing, loss of sense of smell, headache, muscle aches, fatigue or loss of appetite.
While testing has expanded, not everyone needs a test. COVID-19 testing is not recommended for people without symptoms.
While any individual with symptoms can be tested, the following will receive priority:
- Residents and staff of long term care facility
- Individuals requiring admission to hospital or likely to be admitted, such as pregnant individuals near term, patients on hemodialysis, or cancer patients receiving radiation or chemotherapy
- Healthcare workers
- Individuals with a higher probability of being infected with COVID-19 such as contacts of a known case of COVID-19 and travellers just returned to Canada.
- Residents of remote, isolated or Indigenous communities
- People living in congregate settings such as work-camps, correctional facilities, shelters, group homes, assisted living and seniors’ residences
- People who are homeless or have unstable housing
- Essential service providers such as first responders
