Concerned Âé¶čAV residents who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19 are having a hard time getting tested.
This comes despite advice from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry telling those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 to monitor themselves for symptoms, and if theyâre concerned, to get tested â even if theyâre not sure they have symptoms.
A number of Kelownians who were close to the cityâs recent coronavirus exposures have reached out to the Âé¶čAV claiming they were denied testing due to their lack of symptoms.
As of Tuesday, July 21, Interior Health has identified more than 70 test-positive cases of the virus related to the Âé¶čAV exposures compared âover 60â the day previous. Six employees at Âé¶čAV General Hospital also tested positive over the weekend, but no further cases among hospital staff have been reported
Dr. Susan Pollock, Interior Healthâs interim chief medical health officer, said the authorityâs directive is to test only those exhibiting symptoms and itâs on each individual who may have been exposed to closely monitor their symptoms.
âWe know people with COVID-19 can have extremely mild symptoms,â Pollock told the Capital News on Tuesday. âIn some cases, symptoms might be so mild that people just brush it off as a summer cold and not think too much of it. Weâre asking people to be extra vigilant for any symptoms that they have and reminding people that if they have symptoms they should be staying home and they should seek a test.
âPeople should have a very low threshold for symptoms in terms of seeking a test.â
Those who are at high-risk for exposure would be identified through contact tracing and contacted individually by Interior Health, Pollock said. At that time, those people would be assessed by healthcare professionals and given recommendations as to what they should do next.
âIf they do not have symptoms and they think theyâve been exposed weâre recommending they monitor themselves very, very closely and if they have been in contact that they self-isolate as well,â she said.
Pollock confirmed that Interior Health is working with Dr. Henry, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Âé¶čAV Mayor Colin Basran to address the evolving situation in Âé¶čAV. While not revealing the full details of what they have planned, Pollock said much of the messaging pertains to private gatherings.
âWe want to remind people that they should keep them to a very small size and ideally they are outdoor gatherings,â said Pollock.
She added people hosting gatherings should keep a list of names and phone numbers of those who attend to assist with contact tracing.
âRight now, itâs very important that we get that education out,â Pollock said.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said on Tuesday that adjustments are coming to public health advice and orders as a result of increases such as has been seen in Âé¶čAV in recent days.
âWe also have to acknowledge that there were unorganized circumstances that were involved in this outbreak in Âé¶čAV, and we have to take responsibility for those. We have to work with the owners of certain businesses to improve the circumstances in those businesses.â
The Âé¶čAV Capital News has reached out to Mayor Basran for comment but has not received a response.
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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