COVID-19 in B.C.: Testing sites close due to weather, some advised to skip getting a test to 'preserve' capacity

A B.C. health authority that says it's seeing a "significant demand" for COVID-19 testing in recent days has closed some collection centres due to "hazardous weather conditions."

A B.C. health authority that says it's seeing a "significant demand" for COVID-19 testing in recent days has closed some collection centres due to "hazardous weather conditions."

Vancouver Coastal Health posted on social media Tuesday explaining its St. Vincent and Vancouver International Airport testing sites remain closed because of the weather.

"We apologize for the inconvenience," Vancouver Coastal Health's posts said. "Please know that VCH is monitoring weather conditions closely and will re-open these sites as soon as possible."

Metro Vancouver has faced an Arctic outflow warning for several days, leading to record-breaking low temperatures. A snowfall warning is now in effect for the region as well. 

The closures came as the health authority has faced hours-long waits at its testing sites. Before the holidays and the closures, some waited for more than five hours to get a test.

"At this time, there is a significant demand for COVID-19 testing services across B.C.," the health authority's posts said.

Meanwhile, some of Fraser Health's testing and immunization centres have also reduced services because of the weather. Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley and Surrey 66 sites are impacted, the health authority said on Twitter Tuesday.