Penticton has moved its COVID-19 testing centre from the hospital to a new location on Skaha Lake Road.
The new testing site has more parking spaces and will increase the amount of testing that can be done in a day, said Interior Health. Cases have increased substantially in the Okanagan over the past month.
Starting Monday (Dec. 21), testing services have moved to the new dedicated centre located at 140-3547 Skaha Lake Road.
Testing was previously done near the psychiatric ward of Penticton Regional Hospital.
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The testing centre is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information on Interior Health’s COVID-19 community collection centres visit Interior Health’s testing information page.
Testing is available for those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have been sent for testing by a physician, nurse practitioner, or by public health officials.
Testing is not recommended for individuals who do not have symptoms.
You can book an appointment for coronavirus test online through the COVID-19 test booking form at interiorhealthcovid.secureform.ca/index.php
Tests can also be booked by phone by calling 1-877-740-7747.
Testing is available for people with new or worsening COVID-19 symptoms. Interior Health urges people to seek a test immediately if you have one or more of these key symptoms:
- Fever and chills
- Cough
- Loss of sense of taste or smell
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
You should also seek a test if you have two or more of the following symptoms for more than 24 hours, and they are not related to any other pre-existing conditions:
- Sore throat
- Loss of appetite
- Extreme fatigue or tiredness
- Headache
- Body aches (muscles and joints aching)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
For information on COVID-19 testing, visit the BC Centre for Disease Control’s testing information page.
READ MORE: 5 things we’ve learned about COVID-19 since the pandemic struck
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