Fraser Health to open "temporary, high-volume" coronavirus testing centres

Aug 19 2020, 7:41 pm

In an effort to meet “increased demand,” Fraser Health (FH) is expanding access to COVID-19 testing and assessment across Metro Vancouver.

The health authority says that enhancements are scheduled over the coming days and weeks to “heal ensure people experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can quickly receive a COVID-19 assessment and test if they need one.”

Some actions recently taken by FH include increasing staffing levels at certain testing centres, expanding operating hours, and implementing greeters and traffic control to streamline access to facilities.

Now, they’ve announced a number of measures to ramp up testing. According to a statement from FH, new, “temporary high-volume” assessment and testing centres will open in the Surrey and Fraser Northwest Area.

The health authority notes that the two areas are in locations where they’ve seen “a substantially increased need.”

FH will also be increasing testing capacity by opening two drive-thru lanes at its Burnaby testing and assessment centre, extending the hours at its Langley and Abbotsford testing centres, and “standardizing the delivery model” to increase efficiency.

They also plan on introducing a pre-booking and pre-registration system for assessment and testing. The health authority stresses, however, that this new model is still “in development.”

When launched, it will allow people with telephone and online access to book appointments, as well as access information regarding assessment and testing centre wait times.

Fraser Health’s announcement comes shortly after Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) announced the opening of a new testing and assessment centre near Vancouver Community College.

Vincent PlanaVincent Plana

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