Head Tale

A few people we’ve told about our experience going for a COVID test said they appreciated having some information about what the process was like.  So we thought it might be worth posting for anyone else who is curious or ends up having to go for a test themselves.

Now, because Shea works in healthcare and still going into the hospital every day, we always knew we had a greater than average chance that we’d likely end up getting a COVID test at some point.  She isn’t working directly with COVID patients but still has a greater risk of exposure compared to someone quarantining at home for instance.

What we did not expect was that our seven year old daughter would be the first in the family referred for a COVID test!

But after her “virtual” birthday late last week, Sasha spiked a high fever the next day.

She still had a fever after a couple days so we went for the test last Sunday.

In terms of process, we went to a designated COVID testing site in a building behind Pioneer Village on Dewdney Ave (makes me wonder if this is the best location – near a seniors care home as I suspect some people who aren’t paying attention to the signage might end up going into the care home instead of finding their way to the proper location *behind* the building.)

You pull up to a white truck where a masked security guard radios your name inside directs you to a numbered parking spot (picked to ensure at least one spot between you and any other vehicle *even* though you are told to remain in the vehicle until a nurse comes out). The parking lot wasn’t too busy – only one other car in our entire row.

Soon after, a masked nurse comes out and gives a disposable mask to the patient and one other caregiver (no surprise but we both couldn’t go in with Sasha so Shea drew the short straw on that one!)

The nurse leaves then comes back again soon after to accompany the testee and caregiver (if needed) into the test site.

Shea didn’t give me the exact blow-by-blow of what happened *in* the testing area but I do know that her and another nurse had to put some sort of a wrestling hold on Sasha to hold her still since the test is *not* fun, especially if you’re seven.  😮

(I accidentally described the test as a “nasal swap” instead of a “nasal swab” in an email to someone.  But I’m sure Sasha wanted a “nasal swap” after it was done!)

As I said, at least from my perspective in the parking lot, it didn’t seem that busy early on a Sunday afternoon in terms of cars waiting or people being escorted in.  There was one other car when we arrived, they left and Shea and Sasha went in then another car arrived while they were inside.

Our total time at the site was probably half an hour max.

Oh, and the most important detail was that we went through the DQ drive-thru for ice cream after (which probably deserves a post of its own – also some unique processes in place including a pylon at the drive-thru window so you can’t pull up too close then your order being handed to you on a large flat tray to minimize hand-to-hand close contact!)

We were told that we’d get results in 1-3 days but we heard first thing this morning. I suspected they were prioritizing tests for family members of healthcare workers because Shea was told to continue going to work since she didn’t have symptoms but obviously, that’s a potential disaster if the family member then the healthcare worker both end up testing positive.

We later heard from someone else who got their results within a day but someone else, also in healthcare, who didn’t hear for a few days.  So maybe it’s just sort of luck of the draw?

We have no idea how Sasha picked up a flu bug as she basically hasn’t left the house in a month.  But we’re just *really* glad it wasn’t COVID, her temp’s back to normal now, no one else in the family has been sick (yet) and she’s her usual self after a few quiet days.