COVID rapid tests available at B.C. pharmacies starting Friday

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated people at high risk of severe illness from COVID are eligible to receive free rapid tests as of Feb. 25. It has been corrected to indicate the initial rollout of broad distribution is limited to people aged 70 and up.

B.C. will begin rolling out broad distribution of COVID rapid tests at the end of this week.

The province says free kits containing five Rapid Antigen Tests will be available at select pharmacies starting this Friday. Initially, the tests will only be available to people aged 70 and up.

“Distribution will start for those 70 and over, who are amongst the highest risk, as we know,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix.

“Once distribution has started and supply grows, a broadening to younger agents will essentially go down the age ladder … It’s expected to happen quickly.”

The province says the number of locations where rapid tests are available will “grow rapidly with time and supply.”

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People who are eligible for the rapid tests will have to show their BC Services Card at the pharmacy. There will be a limit of one five-test kit per person within a 28-day period.

You can also pick up a kit for a family member or other person, if you provide their name, date of birth, and have their BC Services Card with you.

You will be able to find a list of pharmacies offering rapid test kits on the BC Pharmacy Association website.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the tests are useful when you have symptoms.

“That’s when they are best used … They’re a red light, not a green light,” she said. “If you have symptoms and you need to know if they’re COVID, then these rapid tests are a really great way of doing that. And then you need to isolate until you’re five days or until you’re better.”

“If you have symptoms and you test negative, it doesn’t mean that all of those other measures that we have in place right now you can ignore,” Henry added.

Q when will #covid19 RATS be available to younger cohorts?
Dr Henry says if supply comes in as expected, within 3-4 weeks should be available to everyone.
Long range goal is for ppl to all have at home when cold season comes again to manage risk at home.#bcpoli @CityNewsVAN

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) February 23, 2022

Earlier this week, B.C. schools began receiving COVID rapid tests and distributing them to students to take home for themselves and their families.

The tests are less accurate than PCR testing, but results are much faster, typically within 20 minutes of taking the test.

Last week, the province lifted most COVID restrictions around capacity, though masks and proof of vaccination are still required in many situations. Masks are also still required in indoor public settings.

“As we move through this next few weeks, we’ll be making our decisions about lifting restrictions, about lifting mandates and orders based on what we are seeing,” Henry said.

Health Min @adriandix with tallies of rapid tests BC has and has distributed.#bcpoli @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/uWZZBWkHis

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) February 23, 2022

She adds while the numbers appear to be declining, “COVID-19 is still actively circulating.”

“Many people who have children know that that we’re seeing it in young people in schools … We also have seen tragically, people dying from COVID-19. Most of them are people who have underlying illnesses, people who are older. However, in the last few days, we’ve had four people in their 40s who’ve died from COVID-19.”

…like a box for a family.
Says is a tool that won't solve all the problems but will help people make decisions and manage their risk.#bcpoli @CityNewsVAN #covid19

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) February 24, 2022

She says transmission is still happening at “high levels,” again urging people to get vaccinated against the virus.