Concerned Kelowna 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 they香蕉视频直播檙e concerned, to get tested 香蕉视频直播� even if they香蕉视频直播檙e not sure they have symptoms.
A number of Kelownians who were close to the city香蕉视频直播檚 recent coronavirus exposures have reached out to the 香蕉视频直播 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 Kelowna exposures compared 香蕉视频直播渙ver 60香蕉视频直播� the day previous. Six employees at Kelowna General Hospital also tested positive over the weekend, but no further cases among hospital staff have been reported
Dr. Susan Pollock, Interior Health香蕉视频直播檚 interim chief medical health officer, said the authority香蕉视频直播檚 directive is to test only those exhibiting symptoms and it香蕉视频直播檚 on each individual who may have been exposed to closely monitor their symptoms.
香蕉视频直播淲e know people with COVID-19 can have extremely mild symptoms,香蕉视频直播� Pollock told the Capital News on Tuesday. 香蕉视频直播淚n some cases, symptoms might be so mild that people just brush it off as a summer cold and not think too much of it. We香蕉视频直播檙e 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.
香蕉视频直播淧eople should have a very low threshold for symptoms in terms of seeking a test.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚f they do not have symptoms and they think they香蕉视频直播檝e been exposed we香蕉视频直播檙e recommending they monitor themselves very, very closely and if they have been in contact that they self-isolate as well,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Pollock confirmed that Interior Health is working with Dr. Henry, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran to address the evolving situation in Kelowna. While not revealing the full details of what they have planned, Pollock said much of the messaging pertains to private gatherings.
香蕉视频直播淲e want to remind people that they should keep them to a very small size and ideally they are outdoor gatherings,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淩ight now, it香蕉视频直播檚 very important that we get that education out,香蕉视频直播� 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 Kelowna in recent days.
香蕉视频直播淲e also have to acknowledge that there were unorganized circumstances that were involved in this outbreak in Kelowna, 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.香蕉视频直播�
The Kelowna 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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