As COVID-19 testing sites across BC are filled with people seeking tests, there is some confusion about how long people will need to isolate if they are showing symptoms.
CHEK spoke with the people of the city of Victoria to see what they thought, some estimates were between five days and 14 days.
“There’s confusion because there’s a change,” said B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Read more: BC reports 2,275 new cases of COVID-19; 297 in Island Health
As Omicron quickly took over as the dominant strain, health officials cut the isolation period from 10 days to five just before 2022.
But the most recent advice is what if you have a mild illness and can’t get a COVID test? Stay at home until you get better.
“We’ve been at the peak of our PCR testing for several weeks now,” Henry said.
“It goes to all of us right now, that when symptoms are resolving we can go back to activities and we may be able to fully participate in our day-to-day activities.”
Given the limits of testing, health officials now say anyone, child or adult, with a “mild illness” can go back to work or school after their symptoms stop.
It’s a change teachers in Victoria are concerned about could increase exposure in schools.
READ MORE: ‘We need a plan’: daycares and preschools call for more government guidance as they deal with COVID-19 cases
Winona Waldron, president of the Greater Victoria Teachers Association, said, “Maybe you feel a little better and then realize that you are in school, in fact you are not better, in fact you are sick.”
“It’s like we’re telling people who are still sick and contagious to go back to school because they feel better.”
As a result, there will be greater absenteeism of students and teachers, says Waldron, in the Greater Victoria School District.
“I think the potential future of having a functional closure is diminishing,” Waldron said.
She’s hoping that whatever closes is school-specific.
