Free rapid COVID-19 tests are on the way

The British Columbia government is expanding the distribution of Rapid Antigen COVID-19 tests to include pharmacies.

The expansion of the distribution network will mean more British Columbians will be able to access tests to identify if they are infected and take action to limit transmission to others.

More than 850,000 test kits have already been provided for distributors to supply pharmacies.

The kits contain five tests and will be provided free of charge. British Columbians will have to show their B.C. Services Card in order to access the test kits, which will be limited to one kit per person every 28 days.

The kits are expected to be available at select pharmacies as early as Friday, Feb. 25, with the number of locations providing the kits expected to grow with time and supply.

The kits will only be available to those aged 70 and over at first.

“For starters, we’re going to use the same approach we’ve taken throughout the pandemic and focus in on those who are most at risk of severe outcomes for COVID-19, and that means in particular those over 70,” Health Minister Adrian Dix said.

The test will become available to younger British Columbians as the supply and distribution chain grows. Dix said the province’s COVID-19 website will have updates on age requirements for accessing the tests.

Dix added that people can pick up a testing kit on behalf of someone else, though they will be required to provide the name, date of birth and B.C. Services Card for the person in question.

The list of participating pharmacies will be posted on the B.C. Pharmacy Association website.

“I want to remind people that these tests are a tool that helps you determine what activities you can do if you have symptoms, that’s when they are best used,” Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry said.

“I’ve talked about this before, they’re a red light and not a green light. If you have symptoms and you want to know, or need to know, if they’re COVID, these rapid tests are a really great way of doing that, and then you need to isolate for five days or until you feel better.”

Henry said symptomatic people who test negative should still follow public health measures and stay away from others until no longer symptomatic.

B.C.’s focus remains on using the tests on people with symptoms and keeping tests available for those most at risk of severe illness and death from the virus or for those who work in settings that involve high-risk people or where a positive infection could impact treatment or care.

Higher risk individuals are still encouraged to seek a PCR test if symptomatic.

To date, the province has received over 22-million rapid tests, 14.8-million of which have been distributed, with the majority of those going to schools, and to long-term care and assisted living facilities.

The province plans to distribute another 3-million tests each week over the next four weeks.

Latest numbers

B.C. is reporting 799 new cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday. There are 653 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C., and 108 are in intensive care. There was one new death.

In the Interior, there were 280 new cases, with 156 people hospitalized ( six fewer than Tuesday) and 28 in intensive care (three fewer).

- With files from VernonMatters