The regions top doctor says you just assume you have COVID-19 if you have symptoms as PCR tests are only available to people in high risk settings.
OXFORD COUNTY - Stay home if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.
This is the message from Southwestern Public Health Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock.
Dr. Lock says PCR tests are only available right now to a select few.
"The list includes patient facing health care workers, caregivers, residents and visitors of long term care homes, retirement homes, congregate living and other high risk settings if they have symptoms. It also includes people with specific health conditions that make them more vulnerable to severe infection. First Nation, Inuit and Metis communities can access PCR tests, even if they don't have symptoms, so can people exposed to an outbreak in a high risk setting."
Dr. Lock says if you have access to a rapid antigen test, you should test yourself at home. Those tests are hard to come by these days, with many sold out in stores and the free ones have all been collected. Dr. Lock says they're telling everyone to simply stay home when you are sick.
"For most it will means if you have fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint aches, a sore throat or stuffy nose, you should just assume it is COVID-19 and stay home."
Dr. Lock says 30 percent of all tests are coming back positive for COVID-19 right now, so if you are sick, it is safe to assume there is a good chance you have COVID.
Without PCR test results, Public Health cannot provide individual case and contact management to most people with a COVID-19 infection.
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