Tuesday December 8, 2020 | VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., editor | Island Social Trends
Island Health is taking steps to winterize the working and testing environments for staff and patients at COVID-19 collection sites throughout the region, as announced today by that health authority which serves Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and some areas on the upper coast of the BC mainland.
Island Health’s winterization strategy includes the construction of solid structures as well as moving some collection sites to locations that can accommodate drive-through service. “This strategy will help ensure the safety, security and comfort that our care teams and patients need,” says Island Health.
Drive-in options, sports centre:
Effective today December 8, testing services in the Comox Valley and Duncan will be provided out of inspection bays at local Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) Claim Centre sites. These drive-in bays will be completely separate from ICBC’s daily operations. Collection site locations and hours of operations are available here.
In the past week, Campbell River and Nanaimo have already moved their collection sites into environments suitable for fall and winter weather. In the coming weeks, Island Health will be finalizing the construction of solid structures at 10 sites – and preparing for another move in Port Alberni to the Glenwood Sports Centre.
“Our thanks to ICBC, the City of Port Alberni and all community partners who have provided space and shelter on their sites for this critical piece in Island Health’s pandemic response,” stated Island Health in their news release this afternoon.
By appointment only:
All Island Health collection sites provide testing by appointment only. Drop-in testing is not available.
Test site locations: In the west shore, the test centre is at the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre (West Shore Parks & Recreation), 1767 Island Highway. In downtown Victoria the testing centre is at Victoria Health Unit 1, at 1947 Cook Street. Victoria Health Unit 2 is on the UVic campus, Lot 10 – off Gordon Head Road via West Campus Way. All these locations are presently open seven days a week (Mon-Sun), 9 am to 4 pm.
The Island Health COVID-19 Testing Call Centre at 1-844-901-8442 is available for individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Call Centre hours of operation: Monday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 8 pm.
You will be asked to leave a callback number rather than wait on hold. Calls will be processed in priority order during business hours but you may receive a call back after Call Centre hours, as personnel work to keep up with demand. Please ensure to provide a phone number that can be reached after hours. You will need your personal health number (or your child’s) available when Call Centre staff return your call.
Do you need a test?
To determine whether you require a COVID-19 test, use the bc.thrive.health self-assessment tool. People with symptoms can call 1-844-901-8442 and expect to hear back from an Island Health representative within hours to schedule a test. Please have your personal health number (or your child’s) available when booking a test and when arriving at the collection site. For information about self-isolation before and after testing, please visit: www.islandhealth.ca/isolation.
Mouth rinse-and-gargle tests are now available for children (aged 4+) and adults. Read the instructions for adults to learn what to expect. It is recommended that children being tested watch a video in advance to understand and practice the gargle test process.
===== LINKS:
More information on symptoms and testing: www.islandhealth.ca/covid19testing.