Over the past few months, people suspecting they had Covid-19 have been sheltering in place, unless symptoms were such that they were having serious medical issues.
But now, BC’s testing strategy has been expanded to include anyone with cold, influenza or Covid-19-like symptoms, however mild.
While testing has expanded, not everyone needs a test. Testing is not recommended for people without symptoms.
The symptoms of Covid-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses including the flu and common cold and include fever, chills, a cough, shortness of breath, a sore throat, difficulty or pain in swallowing, a stuffy or runny nose, loss of sense of smell, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Anyone seeking Covid-19 testing should be self-isolating until they receive a negative test result. Most results are available within 24-48 hours of the test.
Testing can be done through a primary care provider, walk-in clinic, urgent primary care centre or community collection centre.
Contact your physician or nurse practitioner’s office, or call the Northern Health COVID Online Clinic at 1-844-645-7811, to arrange for a test. Phone numbers and locations of collection centres can be found by visiting: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing, or by calling 8-1-1.
