New COVID-19 testing site in Vancouver Coastal Health region opening
Posted December 24, 2021 4:57 pm.
Last Updated December 24, 2021 7:49 pm.
Vancouver Coastal Health has decided to open up a new COVID-19 testing center at the Life Sciences Center at UBC.
The health authority says that because of the upcoming cold weather this weekend, the site at 33rd Ave. and Heather St. will be temporarily shut down.
“This is a precautionary measure to ensure the safe operations of testing services for both staff and people accessing care during the inclement weather,” a statement from VCH reads.
Due to a winter storm warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada, starting Saturday Dec. 25, VCH will temporarily divert people accessing COVID-19 testing services at the St. Vincent’s testing site to the new site at UBC. (2/5)
Learn more: https://t.co/la4c4UzrzM
— Vancouver Coastal Health (@VCHhealthcare) December 25, 2021
So all COVID testing will be diverted to the Health Sciences Mall on the UBC campus.
The site will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free parking will be available.
“VCH has redeployed both staffing and resources from St. Vincent’s to the UBC testing site to ensure those accessing services receive safe and efficient care. When operations resume at St. Vincent’s, the UBC testing site will continue to operate to meet the significant demand for testing recorded across the VCH region in recent weeks,” the health authority adds.
The St. Vincent’s site has been overwhelmed with people getting COVID tests, with wait times reaching four hours in some cases.
VCH is reminding people to “prioritize care to those who are sick.”
VCH recommends getting tested if:
– You have one or more of these key symptoms, you are advised to seek testing: fever or chills; cough; loss of sense of smell or taste; or difficulty breathing.
– You have two or more of these symptoms for more than 24 hours, and they are not related to any pre-existing conditions, you are eligible to seek testing: sore throat; loss of appetite; extreme fatigue or tiredness; headache; body aches; nausea or vomiting; and diarrhea.
If you’re not sure whether to get tested at a site, complete the B.C.’s COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool.
A complete list of VCH testing sites is available on the BCCDC website.
