Photo: File photo

Dawn Cooper and her daughter most likely had COVID-19 – but odds are she will never know, despite being tested.

Cooper and her daughter presented symptoms in mid-March and were tested for the coronavirus at Vernon Jubilee hospital on the 15th.

But, she says the tests never made it to the BC Centre for Disease Control.

“My daughter and I were both severely sick, presented with COVID symptoms at Vernon Jubilee Hospital ER, and were immediately tested,” said Cooper. “We were told forced isolation for seven days to await results. My illness became so severe, two days later I went via ambulance to ER. They had me in full isolation, and full protective gear on health-care workers, and were taking no chances.”

Cooper has been self isolating for 18 days now, and the test results have yet to arrive.

Cooper contacted VJH several times, but claimed the receptionists she dealt with were not helpful in her quest to see what happened to her test results.

After several calls, Cooper was connected to the emergency department and was told the files were sent March 24, nine days after being tested.

“I have made many calls to BC CDC as well, and they called me this past Monday, stating that they received files for my daughter and I, but no test kits,” she said.

“This situation is very frustrating because of how ill I was, and it seems like a lack of consideration on the hospital end of things.”

Cooper said she would like to know for peace of mind not only for herself, but those she came in contact with before she fell ill.

“I will not be going back to work for a long time,” said Cooper, who works with seniors.

Castanet has reached out to Interior Health for comment.