VANCOUVER Coastal Health (VCH) is increasing capacity to assess and test people for COVID-19 and a new testing site is now open in Vancouver to provide increased screening and testing for COVID-19.

Located in the north parking lot of Vancouver Community College, on East 7^th Avenue between Keith and Glen Drive, the site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. It can accommodate both walk-in and drive-through clients.

An additional assessment centre in North Vancouver is expected to open in the next couple of weeks and operating hours in Richmond and other locations will increase. For current site locations and hours, refer to the collection site locator on the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

People visiting the new Vancouver COVID-19 testing site will not need a referral or appointment, and will be seen on a first-come, first-serve basis. Assessment for testing, if indicated, will be conducted for those with symptoms of COVID-19 which can include:

· Fever

· Chills

· Cough or worsening of chronic cough

· Shortness of breath

· Sore throat 

·  Runny nose

· Loss of sense of smell or taste

·  Headache

· Fatigue

· Diarrhea

· Loss of appetite

· Nausea and vomiting 

· Muscle aches

While less common, symptoms can also include:

· Stuffy nose

· Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

· Dizziness, confusion

· Abdominal pain

· Skin rashes or discoloration of fingers or toes.

While the criteria for testing has changed during the pandemic, not everyone needs a test. COVID-19 testing is not recommended for people without symptoms. You can use the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool to help determine if you need further assessment for COVID-19 testing by a healthcare provider or at a local collection centre. You can complete this assessment for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.

Identifying new cases of COVID-19 in a timely manner is important to help prevent community spread of the virus and this new assessment centre will contribute to those efforts. VCH says it continues to monitor cases throughout its region. For more information on COVID-19 and testing, visit www.vch.ca/COVID-19.