COVID - 19

  • See HERE for information regarding COVID-19 and children K-12

QUESTIONS:

  1. do I need to be tested: NEW recommendations on testing - IF YOU HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS AND ARE FULLY VACCINATED YOU ARE TO SELF ISOLATE

    complete the online assessment tool https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en for other situations

  2. how to get tested: Request a callback from the Island health testing line at:

    1-844-901-8442 (8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.)

  3. what do I do after I’ve been tested: See this SELF- ISOLATION HANDOUT from the BCCDC

    If you test positive for COVID-19, Self-isolate for at least 5 days from the day your symptoms started if you are fully immunized or at least 10 days from the day your symptoms started if you are not fully immunized.

    Fully immunized means at least 8 days after receiving at least 2 doses of a 2-dose series (e.g. AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Moderna vaccine) or 14 days after a single dose of a 1-dose series (e.g. Janssen/Johnson and Johnson vaccine).

    Continue to isolate for longer if you have a fever or are not feeling better.A NOTE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR RETURN TO WORK

If you test negative for COVID-19, stay home until you feel better.

4. What if Ive been in contact with someone with COVID-19?: see this handout (Dec 23/21) from BCCDC on what to do

5. non-medical questions: call 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 1-888-268-4319.

6. Other Frequently Asked Questions: see covidquestions.ca

7. INFORMATION ABOUT RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS (RAT), and HOW TO REPORT a positive RAT test: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/testing/rapid-antigen-testing#I--tested--positive

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Exemptions

There is NO exemption to the current Vaccine Passport mandate in BC. See here for details

Mask exemptions are not provided except under exceptional circumstances

Summary Resources

Community Resources

School district 61 has created a comprehensive document that describes Food, Shelter, Youth, Mental Health, Seniors, Legal Resources and many more, and which of their services are still running during COVID-19

NEW! Pathways Community Services Directory for the South Island


Financial Resources

You might be laid off. You might have had to take leave. You might run your own business, and your revenue is hurting. There are options for you. This excellent document outlines your options and gives you an idea of where to start.

And here’s another summary, written a little bit differently.

Family Support during COVID-19

See this summary document made by UBC medical students

A word on COVID antibody testing

You may have heard about Lifelabs offering a COVID-19 antibody test.

This test is:

1) NOT funded by MSP (and is therefore private pay to the patient)

2) NOT recommended by the Ministry of Health or Public health (Lifelabs is not clear on whether it is even the same test as the ones ordered by public health)

3) NOT recommended or ordered by our clinic as it has limited clinical utility for routine cases outside of specific Public health guidance for specific cases or research.

4) CANNOT comment on infectivity or immunity and is therefore of NO UTILITY

Any doctor visits related to discussing this test, are a private pay matter (not covered by your care card) as this test and visits related to it are not an MSP funded service.

See the BCCDC website here for more details.

Helpful Links

  • There are some for whom COVID-19 will make seriously ill. Take a moment to consider your goals of care