The health and well-being of our residents is always our top priority. As the COVID-19 situation has rapidly evolved, Halton Region has been preparing to respond to reduce the risk in our community.
The Halton Region Health Department has fully implemented their Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan to respond to COVID-19 in Halton. We are working closely with the Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario, hospitals and local health partners to monitor the situation, take important precautionary measures to contain spread of disease and reduce any risk to the public.
Everyday actions you can take to reduce exposure to COVID-19
Here are some steps you and your family can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses:
- stay home when ill. In particular, do not visit a long-term care, retirement home or other congregate living situation;
- cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve;
- wash hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand rub; and
- clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
Get reliable information and stay informed
One of the best ways to protect yourself and others is to make sure you have the right information. Please visit our website at halton.ca/COVID19 for the latest information.
At this time, Halton Region Public Health is focusing on those most at risk of COVID-19. Our current priority is to hear from high-risk groups only:
- health care providers seeking or reporting information;
- those living or working in a healthcare setting or institution and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19; or
- those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
If you are high-risk, please call 311. For all other inquiries, please visit halton.ca/COVID19. You can also visit the Ministry of Health’s website (external link) to use their self-assessment tool. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to support our community.
Anyone with severe symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing) should seek medical attention by calling 911. Please inform 911 of your symptoms and recent travel history to ensure the right infection prevention and control precautions are taken.
We are also reminding people that our Regional facilities do not provide COVID-19 testing or medical treatment. This is to protect the health and safety of anyone visiting Halton Region as well as the many staff we have working at our various locations.
Information for travelers
The Government of Canada has recommended that Canadians avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice. You can visit the Government of Canada’s website (external link) to get the latest information about international travel, including health risks and what to do upon return if you are feeling ill.
I would like to thank our Public Health staff, Paramedics and all frontline health care workers for the incredible job you are doing to protect the health and safety of our community. By working together to ensure we are prepared for this evolving situation, we can do our best to protect our residents and our community.
Sincerely,
Gary Carr
Halton Regional Chair