COVID-19
Guidance for the Health Sector
| Last reviewed | January 25, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Last updated | January 25, 2023 |
- Case Definition
- How to help
- Travelers from outside of Canada
- Guidance Documents
- COVID-19 Vaccine-Relevant Information and Planning Resources
- For Controlled Drugs and Substances (CDS) prescribers
- Signage
- Related Information
Case Definition
The case definition for COVID-19 has been updated and is current as of June 28, 2022. This information may change frequently, please check back often for updates.
For clinical testing purposes: health professionals who are involved in the assessment and management of possible COVID-19 cases are encouraged to consult Tables 1 and 2 in the daily WHO Situation Report to help inform their decision making.
How to help
We are looking for people with experience in health care who can help us to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.
Visit our Health Workforce Matching Portal if you're a:
- health care provider working part-time and want to increase your work hours, a former health care provider who is retired or on inactive status, or a health care provider in training and you'd like to be matched to positions and opportunities where services are needed most
- health care facility and would like to request help from available resources
Travelers from outside of Canada:
Anyone who has travelled outside of Canada is required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their arrival back in Canada. Travellers who are fully vaccinated and meet specific requirements may be exempt from quarantine requirements as per federal guidelines. For more information please visit the Government of Canada's website for travel advice and the Ministry of Health website dedicated to coronavirus.
Guidance Documents
Guidance documents on COVID-19 have been produced for a number of health and other sectors.
Note: To the extent that any guidance document conflicts with a Directive issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health under s. 77.7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, the Directive prevails.
Health Sector Resources
| Document title | Date |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 Guidance: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Health Care Workers and Health Care Entities Addendum: Guidelines for Pandemic Stockpile Use |
August 24, 2022 |
| Infection Prevention and Control Hubs | November 10, 2020 |
| COVID-19 Guidance: Acute Care | January 11, 2023 |
| Guidance for Mental Health and Addictions Service Providers in Community Settings | September 24, 2020 |
Long-Term Care Home / Retirement Homes Resources
| Document title | Date |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 Guidance: Long-Term Care Homes, Retirement Homes and Other Congregate Living Settings for Public Health Units | January 18, 2023 |
| Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility COVID-19 Guidance Document for Retirement Homes in Ontario | October 6, 2022 |
| Screening Tool for Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes | August 31, 2022 |
| COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes in Ontario | June 10, 2022 |
| Minister’s Directive: COVID-19 response measures for long-term care homes | June 10, 2022 |
| COVID-19 Test Requisition | June 12, 2020 |
Symptoms, Screening, and Testing Resources
| Document title | Date |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance | January 25, 2023 |
| COVID-19 Screening Tool videos for the hearing impaired | December 3, 2021 |
| Guidance for Employers Managing Workers with Symptoms within 48 Hours of COVID-19 Immunization | November 30, 2021 |
| COVID-19 Guidance: Testing of Individuals in Pharmacies | November 18, 2021 | Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Testing - PHO | April 18, 2020 |
| Considerations for Privately-Initiated Testing | May 21, 2021 |
| COVID-19 Patient Screening Guidance Document | August 26, 2021 |
Case and Contact Management Resources
| Document title | Date |
|---|---|
| Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario | November 30, 2022 |
Guidance for Other Sectors
| Document title | Date |
|---|---|
| Guidance on Community Emergency Evacuations | May 16, 2022 |
| Outbreak Guidance: Workplace and Living Settings for Seasonal International Agriculture Workers (IAWs) | September 8, 2022 |
For Controlled Drugs and Substances (CDS) prescribers
Health Canada is moving forward with regulatory exemptions to improve pharmacological and therapeutic options for allowing patients to access controlled medications during the COVID-19.
Health Canada Exemption and Interpretive Guide for Controlled Substances.
Signage
The following signage has been created for businesses and health care settings.
| Document title | Date |
|---|---|
| Patients - English | August 26, 2021 |
| Patients - French | August 26, 2021 |
| Visitors - English | August 26, 2021 |
| Visitors - French | August 26, 2021 |
Related Information
Ontario.ca/COVID-19
Contacting your Public Health Unit
What we know so far - PHO
Government of Canada COVID-19 Outbreak update
Health811: 811
Public Information
