New COVID-19 testing centre established in Kelowna

KELOWNA – The Interior Health Authority (IH) is taking a new strategy as it attempts to get control of the Kelowna cluster of COVID-19 cases.

It is opening a new testing and assessment centre in downtown Kelowna.It will be located at its Community Health and Services Centre at 505 Doyle Avenue. The facility will be open to the public from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week.

“Many of the people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Kelowna this month have been in their 20s and 30s, and live, work and socialize downtown,” says Dr. Sue Pollock, IH Chief Medical Health Officer. “This site is set up to be convenient and accessible for these individuals and others, so that getting tested when you may have been exposed to COVID-19 is easy, and we can stop the spread.”

No appointments are necessary to be tested. Instead, everyone will be treated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Until today, testing in Kelowna was only available at the Kelowna Urgent and Primary Care Centre. It will continue to operate from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily by appointment only. Appointments can be set up by calling 250-469-6985.

The new facility will be in place for two weeks and then officials will assess its need.