December 22, 2020 - 12:00pm
Please Note: The testing and collection clinic has relocated to Nanaimo North Town Centre from Vancouver Island University's Nanaimo campus. Read more at Island Health.
To improve community access to COVID-19 testing, VIU is pleased to partner with Island Health to enable drive-through testing in one of our parking lots on the Nanaimo campus. The collection site opened on December 1 and is located in the lower part of Lot B (near the Navy League building – access via entrance 5A off Fifth Street) and consists of four drive-through bays.
Like all drive-through collection sites, the VIU site provides safe access to testing without the need for people to leave their vehicles or enter a public building, such as a doctor’s office or health clinic. Please see this Island Health media release for more details.
Accessing the Collection Site
Testing or immunization appointments at the VIU Nanaimo collection site, must be pre-booked and only six vehicles will be allowed in the queue at any one time. The collection site will allow those without vehicles to walk through to access testing services, with an appointment. To access testing, please take the online self-assessment, and if recommended, call 1-844-901-8442.
Impact on our community
The impact on our campus community is minimal. The Island Health employees who work at the location operate under strict health and safety protocols and only require access to one classroom and the washrooms in Building 165, which is currently unoccupied. Less than 20% of VIU’s community members are on campus at any time, and there is plenty of parking available in other lots, including Lot A.
The collection site area is fenced, signage is in place, and on-site security is present to direct traffic and verify appointments. Please do not to enter the site without an appointment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is Island Health opening COVID testing locations in Nanaimo?
Since the early days of the pandemic, Island Health has operated collection sites in communities across the island. In Nanaimo, the previous site was on Grant Avenue; however, the space was inadequate for the volume of testing required. Community collection sites allow people to easily access COVID-19 testing without needing to leave their communities. For safety, patients can stay within their vehicles instead of entering a public building like a doctor’s office or health clinic. Other post-secondary institutions are partnering with health authorities to open similar drive-through testing collection sites, such as Vancouver Community College and the University of Victoria.
Are testing sites a risk to the public?
No. All collection sites operate under strict COVID-19 protocols and controls. During the hours of operation, a security guard is stationed at the entrance to ensure people have an appointment and follow the site safety instructions. After hours, Island Health stores their equipment in locked facilities, which are not accessible to anyone else.
When is the collection site open?
The collection site operates daily from 9 am to 4 pm, by appointment only.
Who should I contact if I have concerns?
Please contact VIU’s Health and Safety team at safety@viu.ca.
Tags: Announcements
