COVID-19: Vancouver tests testing capacity as sites close due to cold
The emergence of the Omicron variant is leading to an increase in cases, especially in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, resulting in long queues and delays at most testing centers.
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Vancouver Coastal Health only urges people at high risk for COVID-19 to get tested as centers are overwhelmed and many are forced to close due to unusually cold weather in British Columbia.
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The emergence of the Omicron variant is leading to an increase in cases, especially in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, resulting in long queues and delays at most testing centers. To make matters worse, Vancouver Coastal (VCH) and Fraser Health closed testing sites this week due to the cold.
“Due to dangerous weather conditions, VCH has temporarily suspended operations at the St. Vincent and YVR test sites and is redirecting people to other test sites,” the health authority said in a series of tweets on Tuesday. afternoon.
With the move, VCH also suggested that people who are not at high risk self-isolate if they are showing symptoms – but not to get tested.
“As a temporary measure to preserve testing capacity for people at higher risk of COVID-19, people do not need to be tested if they are fully vaccinated, have mild symptoms and are able to s ‘self-isolate until symptoms improve. “
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VCH urged those who had planned to go to St. Vincent or the airport for a test to find alternatives , including the University of British Columbia, ICBC, and emergency and primary care centers.
Likewise, Fraser Health said it was operating with reduced testing capacity due to “dangerous weather.” Sites in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley (at Kwantlen Polytechnic) and Surrey 66 COVID testing and vaccination centers had cut back on their services on Tuesday.
Fraser Health would direct people to indoor clinics or suggest people change reservations.
The suggested alternatives were:
• Burnaby: go to Surrey North;
• Coquitlam: go to Haney Place Mall or Surrey North;
• Langley (KPU): Meet at the Langley Event Center;
• Surrey 66: Meet at South Surrey Recreation Center.
Neither health authority said how long the reduced testing capacity would last, but said it was monitoring the weather and updating accordingly.
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