A COVID collection tent is going up outside of Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake.
The tent is being erected adjacent to the triage tent that went up at the end of March.
The original larger tent is for assessments of patients presenting to the hospital/emergency department with respiratory symptoms, and for symptomatic patients to get blood work, confirmed Susan Duncan, Interior Health communications.
“The new smaller tent is for our COVID-19 testing clinic, now located by the hospital where there are staff available to handle any appointments for testing,” Duncan said. “As well, people being tested can also be assessed if required.”
People must call ahead for an appointment. 250-302-5006. The Hours are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Weekends: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
B.C.’s testing COVID-19 strategy has been expanded to include anyone with cold, influenza or COVID-19-like symptoms, however mild, Interior Health noted in a news statement on April 27, 2020.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses including the flu and common cold. They include: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, painful swallowing, stuffy or runny nose, loss of sense of smell, muscle aches, fatigue and loss of appetite.
“While testing has expanded, not everyone needs a test. COVID-19 testing is not recommended for people without symptoms,” the statement added.
Read more: British Columbians can double their ‘pandemic bubble’ mid-May, but no large gatherings
Interior Health has 14 testing and assessment centres located across the health authority: 100 Mile House, Salmon Arm, Williams Lake, Nelson, Trail, Cranbrook, Vernon, Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Revelstoke, Sparwood, Grand Forks, and Golden.
Testing at these centres is by appointment.
Anyone who needs a test should call their primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) or the closest Interior Health community testing and assessment centre directly to arrange a test.
More information, including the contact information for each of the centres in IH and how to obtain your results, is available on the IH website.
As of Wednesday morning, May 6, there were 2,255 confirmed cases in B.C. Of those 74 were hospitalized, 19 required intensive care, 124 deaths and 1,494 people who have recovered.
In Interior Health there have been 179 confirmed cases to date.
Read more: COVID-19: Some essential workers to get wage top-up
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