By Dylana Kneeshaw

COVID-19 TESTING

Interior Health clarifies COVID-19 testing procedures in Kamloops

Sep 23, 2020 | 3:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health (IH) is clarifying details around COVID-19 testing in Kamloops, after changes were made to testing locations.

Interior Health says the booking delay last weekend was a unique situation as it moved COVID-19 testing to the public health unit, and saw an increase in call volumes after school started.

In an email, IH states all testing for people with symptoms of COVID-19 is now conducted by appointment at the office of Kamloops Public Health at 519 Columbia Street.

Testing hours are Monday through Friday, however Interior Health says the hours will expand to Monday through Saturday after this weekend. Appointments can still be booked over the phone seven days a week by calling 250 851-7467.

Going forward, only urgent testing with referrals from physicians and nurse practitioners will take place at the Kamloops Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC). IH says this will allow nursing staff at the UPCC to focus on patients who require urgent primary care.

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“It’s important to know that it is not essential to get a test within 48 hours,” states the email. “Anyone with symptoms associated with COVID-19 should self isolate before and after their test and until the symptoms are gone. To date, most people are getting in for appointments within 24 hours.”

The health authority stresses that even with a negative test result, people should still stay home if they are experiencing the following symptoms: fever, chills, a persistent cough, diarrhea or vomiting.

“Our teams are working hard to ensure everyone gets their appointments and tests as quickly as possible. We also want to remind people that you do not need a test if you don’t have symptoms.” the health authority states. “Please note there are potentially times when we encounter a surge of calls. People can leave a message and our team will call back as quickly as possible.”