Emergency Health Services
COVID-19 Screening Tool for Paramedics
The below screening tool is based on the latest COVID-19 case definitions and the Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports published by the World Health Organization.
COVID-19 Screening Tool – Version 2.0 (August 26, 2021)
Background Question:
- Did the person receive their final (or second) vaccination dose more than 14 days ago?*
*A fully immunized individual is defined as any individual >14 days after receiving their second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or their first dose of a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine series (i.e. Johnson and Johnson).
Screening Questions:
- Does the person have any of the following symptoms:
- Fever and/or chills
- New onset of cough or worsening chronic cough
- Shortness of breath
- Decrease or loss of sense of taste or smell
- If adult >18 years of age: unexplained fatigue/lethargy/malaise/muscle aches (myalgias)
- If child <18 years of age: nausea/vomiting, diarrhea
- Has the person tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or have they been told they should be isolating?
Questions 4 and 5 should only be asked if the person is not fully vaccinated (i.e. they answered ‘No’ to Q1):
- Did the person travel outside of Canada in the past 14 days?
- Has the person had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 without wearing appropriate PPE?
COVID-19 Screening Results
If response to ALL of the screening questions is NO: | COVID Screen Negative |
If response to ANY of the screening questions is YES: | COVID Screen Positive |
If patient screens POSITIVE, document and continue use of routine and additional precautions outlined in the latest Training Bulletin No. 120 – Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).