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Ministry Status: Recovery


The ministry is resuming regular operations and supporting health sector stabilization.

COVID-19

Guidance for the Health Sector

Last reviewed June 26, 2023
Last updated June 26, 2023

Case Definition

The case definition for COVID-19 has been updated and is current as of June 9, 2023. 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.

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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

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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.

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Health Sector Resources

Document title Date
COVID-19 Guidance: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Health Care Workers and Health Care Entities

June 10, 2022
Infection Prevention and Control Hubs November 10, 2020
COVID-19 Guidance: Acute Care
Note: The content from this document is now contained within the Appendix: Diseases caused by a novel coronavirus, including Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
June 9, 2023
Guidance for Mental Health and Addictions Service Providers in Community Settings September 24, 2020

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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 June 26, 2023
Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility COVID-19 Guidance Document for Retirement Homes in Ontario June 26, 2023
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 26, 2023
Minister’s Directive: COVID-19 response measures for long-term care homes June 10, 2022
COVID-19 Test Requisition June 12, 2020

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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

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Case and Contact Management Resources

Document title Date
Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario
Note: The content from this document is now contained within the Appendix: Diseases caused by a novel coronavirus, including Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
June 9, 2023

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Guidance for Other Sectors

Document title Date
Outbreak Guidance: Workplace and Living Settings for Seasonal International Agriculture Workers (IAWs) June 9, 2023

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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.

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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

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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

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For More Information

Ministry of Health
Health System Emergency Management Branch
1075 Bay Street, Suite 810
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5S 2B1
Fax : 416-212-4466
TTY : 1-800-387-5559
E-mail : emergencymanagement.moh@ontario.ca

 

Health workers and health sector employers can call the Healthcare Provider Hotline for more information
Toll free : 1-866-212-2272

CritiCall Ontario provides a 24 hour call centre for hospitals to contact on-call specialists; arrange for appropriate hospital bed access and facilitate urgent triage for patients
1-800-668-4357

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