COVID-19 testing stations are declared essential services over the holidays with Coquitlam’s drive-thru station open on Christmas Day.
Like firefighters, paramedics, police and hospital workers, critical public health officials will also be working on Dec. 25 to collect samples from people with symptoms who may have COVID-19.
Located at 2796 Aberdeen Ave., in Coquitlam, at TransLink’s Coquitlam Centre park and ride lot, the testing station has been in open since early October. On its first day, it tested 476 people out of an 800-person daily capacity.
The Tri-Cities registered 177 new cases of COVID-19 in the second week of December, a slight uptick from the previous week, according to recent data released by the BC Centre for Disease Control.
On a per-capita basis, the Tri-Cities reported five to 10 cases per day during the previous surveillance period, a rate roughly equal to North Vancouver Richmond, Maple Ridge and Langley, but lower than Burnaby, Delta, Abbotsford and Surrey — the latter registering 1,484 cases between Dec. 6 and Dec. 12.
In a recent press release, Fraser Health noted that people feeling ill should use the COVID-19 assessment tool and get tested as soon as possible when they have symptoms.
To book a COVID-19 testing appointment, complete a COVID-19 test booking form. You can also call the central intake number at 604-587-3936, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For those who test positive, complete the online COVID-19 Case and Contact Form, which helps start the process of contact tracing.
The testing station is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday to Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
— With flies from Stefan Labbé
