Vancouver Coastal Health COVID-19 testing update

Due to a winter storm warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada on Dec. 23, 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. This is a precautionary measure to ensure the safe operations of testing services for both staff and people accessing care during the inclement weather.

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.

From Dec. 1 to Dec. 22, VCH testing sites distributed and administered almost 45,000 PCR and rapid antigen tests to community members. Those who test positive are provided with instructions for completing their assessment, self-isolation, managing symptoms, and notifying their contacts. They do not require additional testing to confirm their test result. 

To support testing capacity and to prioritize care to those who are sick, VCH continues to strongly encourage only those with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to access testing services. 

• 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. 

• If 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. 

Those who are unsure whether to access testing can complete B.C.'s COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool. Anyone with immediate health concerns is advised to speak to their family doctor or call 8-1-1 for healthcare guidance. 

VCH appreciates the continued cooperation, patience and support of all community members as we remain committed to offering safe and quality care for COVID-19. We also share our deepest gratitude with our staff who continue to work tirelessly to support our testing services throughout the past two years and during this upcoming holiday season. 

A complete list of VCH testing sites is available on the BCCDC website.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is committed to delivering exceptional care for all 1.2 million people within the ancestral, traditional and unceded homelands of 14 First Nations. With more than 26,000 staff and medical staff, VCH is British Columbia's hub of health-care innovation, research and academic excellence, providing specialized care to patients throughout the province. Learn more at vch.ca.