Testing information for staff and medical staff

If you develop cold, influenza or COVID-19 like symptoms at work, tell your supervisor immediately, and then go home and self-isolate and call employee absence reporting line (EARL) 1-877-342-3275.

Contact a testing and immunization centre to book an appointment to get testing for COVID-19 as soon as possible. Let the testing and immunization centre know that you are a health care worker.

If you are off work, please self-isolate and contact the testing and immunization centre as soon as possible to book an appointment. Let the testing and immunization centre know that you are a health care worker.

If you are going to miss a shift at work, call EARL.

You do not need to be tested if you are not symptomatic unless you have been instructed by public health.

You may also refer to BCCDC detailed guidance on exposure risk assessment for further actions depending on the type of exposure with someone who is COVID-19 positive.

After you contact the testing and immunization centre (either by phone or email, depending upon the site), they will give you an appointment time and instructions for when you arrive. You need to let them know that you are a health care worker.

At most sites, you remain in your car while they ask you some questions. The swabbing is done while you are in your car. They will ask you questions and provide you with handouts about self-isolation.

You do not need a physician order to be tested at the testing and immunization centre as long as you have symptoms.

Self-isolate at home and self-monitor for symptoms while you are awaiting your test results.

At the testing and immunization centre, they will have provided you with information about self-isolating. Please see this link to the handout you may have been provided: Self-isolation Instructions for Health Care and Essential Workers Tested for COVID-19. You can also get this information from our page on self-isolation information for staff and medical staff. 

Please visit the BCCDC Test Results page on information on how long test results will take, and how to access them.

Anyone, including staff and medical staff, with symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested at an assessment centre.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other respiratory illnesses including the flu and common cold. They include:

• Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath and sore throat.
• Other symptoms may include: Painful swallowing, stuffy or runny nose, loss of sense of smell, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Sometimes people with COVID-19 have mild illness, but their symptoms may suddenly worsen in a few days. People infected with COVID-19 may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting a few days after the onset of the above symptoms. If you only have gastrointestinal symptoms you may not have COVID-19.

If you have these symptoms, contact a testing and immunization centre to get tested as soon as possible and let them know that you are a health care worker.

If you are asymptomatic, you do not need to be tested. Public Health will contact staff and medical staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 as part of contract tracing and will provide those people with further instructions.