COVID-19 in B.C.: Testing sites close due to weather, some advised to skip getting a test to 'preserve' capacity

A B.C. health authority that says it's seeing a "significant demand" for COVID-19 testing in recent days has closed some collection centres due to "hazardous weather conditions."

Vancouver Coastal Health posted on social media Tuesday explaining its St. Vincent and Vancouver International Airport testing sites remain closed because of the weather.

"We apologize for the inconvenience," Vancouver Coastal Health's posts said. "Please know that VCH is monitoring weather conditions closely and will re-open these sites as soon as possible."

Metro Vancouver has faced an Arctic outflow warning for several days, leading to record-breaking low temperatures. A snowfall warning is now in effect for the region as well. 

The closures came as the health authority has faced hours-long waits at its testing sites. Before the holidays and the closures, some waited for more than five hours to get a test.

"At this time, there is a significant demand for COVID-19 testing services across B.C.," the health authority's posts said.

Meanwhile, some of Fraser Health's testing and immunization centres have also reduced services because of the weather. Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley and Surrey 66 sites are impacted, the health authority said on Twitter Tuesday. 

Those seeking testing in Vancouver Coastal Health are advised to go to a testing site at UBC, which only offers takeaway rapid tests, or to go to an urgent and primary care centre offering testing. According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control's collection centre dashboard, several of those locations are by appointment only. Two of the other testing locations had two or three-hour-long waits as of Wednesday morning. 

As well, some with symptoms are being advised to skip getting a test altogether.

"As a temporary measure to preserve testing capacity for those at higher risk from COVID-19, people do not need to get a test if they are fully vaccinated, have mild symptoms, and are able to self-isolate until symptoms improve," VCH's post said.

Fraser Health and Interior Health have similar notices posted on their websites.

This messaging echoes what B.C.'s top doctor advised in her most recent COVID-19 update.

"As many people have experienced, our testing centres are now at their maximum capacity and we have been doing a lot of testing over these past few days, despite things like the weather," Dr. Bonnie Henry said Wednesday, explaining that the "more-accurate" PCR tests are being prioritized for those who are considered "highest risk."

"So those who have a high risk of having a more severe illness or for people who need to know whether they have COVID to be able to safely return to work … if you are a health-care worker, please do go and get tested."

Henry said that for many, especially those who are fully vaccinated, Omicron is typically causing a milder illness.

"For many people, that means if you have mild illness, you can self-manage at home and you don't need a test," she said.

As a result of some people being advised to forgo testing and others being given rapid tests only, the government's daily COVID-19 case counts are likely incomplete. In fact, Henry said Wednesday that the "true number" of COVID-19 infections may vary by "four or five times" what's being counted through PCR tests.

"All along, we know that the daily numbers are not reflecting everybody who has COVID in our province," Henry said.