With confirmed cases on the rise in British Columbia and more people looking for answers, the province’s health information line has been getting increasingly busy.
In order to help British Columbian’s screen themselves from their own home, the government has launched a new online self-assessment tool for residents in order to help with the process.
The tool developed by the Ministry of Health is essentially an online survey that asks questions to help British Columbians determine if they need to pursue additional coronavirus testing.
As more and more people self-isolate, the government is advising that not everyone needs to get tested.
According to the province, the only people who should seek COVID-19 testing are people with respiratory symptoms and who are:
- Hospitalized, or likely to be hospitalized
- Health Care Workers
- Residents of long term care facilities
- Part of an investigation of a cluster or outbreak
Those who are showing no signs of symptoms, or have mild symptoms that can be managed at home – this includes returned travellers who are experiencing an onset of illness and are in isolation – do not need to pursue further testing during this heightened time of need.
The BC Ministry of Health continues to urge anyone who has symptoms – including a fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat, or difficulty breathing – to remain in self-isolation for 14 days.
Anyone looking for additional information about COVID-19, including the latest on travel recommendations, can call or text the provincial government through a newly created hotline at 1-888-268-4319 (1-888-COVID19) between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.
B.C.’s COVID-19 self-assessment tool can be found online here.
CHEK News
