With Canada under strict social-distancing rules and an unprecedented demand for medical resources, many British Columbians are turning to virtual medicine.

On social media, there are hundreds of complaints about the line not working, a busy signal received, and, once a caller gets through, reports of being disconnected after being in queue for hours.

“As long as I’m healthy and able to offer it, I will do it," said one nurse.

Before a person experiencing symptoms should go to an assessment centre, the government and Telehealth are asking those people to either call in or use the new online self-assessment tool.

Reported 14-hour wait times with provincial health authority hotlines are frustrating many who are calling with their concerns about coronavirus

It took Global News' Kamil Karamali more than a day, several calls to different professionals and hours of waiting to get answers to his personal questions about COVID-19

Canada has been slow to adopt practices like telehealth and doctors' visits done by video conference, experts say.

Real-time video conferencing now links several hospitals, along with community mental-health specialists.

Launched in fall 2016, Maple is now operating in every province except for Saskatchewan, Quebec and New Brunswick. The company offers 24/7 access to physicians.