Vancouver Coastal Health has opened a new COVID-19 testing site at the University of British Columbia, amid a surge in demand as the Omicron variant rises in the province.
The new site is located in the Life Sciences Center, Health Sciences Center on the university’s Vancouver campus, and will operate from 9 am to 7 pm seven days a week.
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COVID-19: BC triaging PCR tests, recognizes increased aerosol spread of Omicron variant
With weather advisories in place due to freezing weather expected to descend on the province this week, the health authority said it will temporarily divert all test applicants from its St. Vincent’s site near Cambie and 33rd Avenue to the site of UBC, starting December 25. .
“This is a precautionary measure to ensure the safe operations of testing services for both staff and individuals accessing care during inclement weather,” it said in a press release.
“VCH has redistributed both St. Vincent’s staff and resources to the UBC testing site to ensure that those accessing services receive safe and efficient care. When operations in St. Vincent resume, the UBC test site will continue to operate to meet the significant test demand in the VCH region in recent weeks. “
The health authority did not say when the St. Vincent site would reopen.
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COVID-19: BC Reports 2,441 New Cases, Four Deaths Amid Full Testing System
Early Friday, provincial health official Dr. Bonnie Henry said the province was doing more than 20,000 PCR tests and was evaluating the tests because it did not have the capacity to do more.
He urged people without symptoms not to get tested, and asked anyone with symptoms who was not an older person or in a risk group to isolate themselves at home rather than seek a test.
BC announced more than 2,400 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, a new record, with active cases topping 10,000 for the first time since
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