My Experience Getting Tested for COVID-19 in British Columbia, Canada

I am going to see some friends in a few days that I have not seen since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I have worn a mask in public and sanitized my hands as often as possible whenever I leave my home. Despite these efforts, I felt some minor flu-like symptoms. I called the COVID-19 hotline (811) and they told me where the nearest drive through testing location was.

I spent about 20 minutes in-line. A nurse took my personal health card number, and ushered me through. A second nurse, also very nice, asked me a few questions about my symptoms, and then administered the test.

It feels like a q-tip being pushed way too far into your nose. The nurse also swirled around this q-tip thingy for 15 seconds. Not comfortable, but not horrible.

After that I was free to go. Very easy.

Exactly 24 hours later, my test results were available online.

Fortunately, they came back negative. I think I just have allergies or some other minor illness (I already feel much better only one day later).

Overall this experience was quick, efficient, and made me feel very secure about British Columbia's response to testing for COVID-19.