COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus)

Symptoms range from mild (like the flu and other common respiratory infections) to severe. Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• fever
• new or worsening cough
• shortness of breath
• sore throat
• difficulty swallowing
• loss of sense of smell or taste
• nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
• nasal congestion or runny nose (without other known cause, such as seasonal allergies)
• fatigue
• headache
• chills
• pink eye

Symptoms in children, older persons and people living with a developmental disability may be atypical (such as unexplained fatigue or falls).

For a full list of symptoms, please refer to the Ontario Ministry of Health website (external link).

Individuals with symptoms (even if mild) associated with COVID-19 are required to self-isolate (external PDF) under a class order issued by the Medical Officer of Health under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (see Self-isolation tab on this webpage).

If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has symptoms associated with COVID-19, refer to the Assessment tab on this webpage for information on assessment and testing.

At this time, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 and no vaccine. Most people with COVID-19 will recover on their own by:

• drinking plenty of fluids;
• getting rest and sleeping as much as possible; and
• using a humidifier or a hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough.

Health Canada states that there is no definitive evidence that ibuprofen worsens COVID-19 symptoms. Please consult Health Canada’s website(external link).

Consumption of methanol will not protect against COVID-19. Methanol is not meant for human consumption and may lead to adverse effects to human health. Methanol should never be ingested, should not come in contact with skin and vapors should not be inhaled.

Assessment and testing for COVID-19 are available for:

• residents who have one or more COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are mild;
• those who are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19;
• those who do not have COVID-19 symptoms, but are concerned that they have been exposed; and
• those who are at high risk for getting COVID-19 through your work (for example, health care workers, grocery store or food processing plant employees), even if you do not have symptoms. 

Residents can be assessed and tested at an Assessment Centre:

• Residents of Oakville, Milton or Halton Hills: Call 905-203-7963 to book an appointment at a Halton Healthcare Assessment Centre.
• Residents of Burlington: Call 905-632-3737, ext. 6550 to book an appointment at Joseph Brant Hospital COVID-19 Assessment Clinic.

In order to maintain physical distancing and avoid crowding, testing is by appointment only at Assessment Centres; there are no walk-in Assessment Centers in Halton Region.

You can also use the Ontario Government’s COVID-19 online self-assessment tool (exteranl link) or contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 to determine if you need to seek further care.

If you have COVID-19 related questions, email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311.

The Government of Ontario has increased Public Health Units’ capacity to stop COVID-19 (external link), including a new user-friendly online portal (external link) for the public to easily access their COVID-19 lab test results, both positive and negative.

• If you have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting lab test results, you are encouraged to check the provincial online portal (external link) for your results.
  • NOTE: If you have accessed your results from the portal and you see “unavailable", this means that your sample was sent to another lab for testing and those results cannot be accessed via the online portal at this time. Until you receive confirmed results, please continue to self-isolate. The Ministry of Health is currently working to resolve this issue.
• Halton Region Public Health will only contact residents or follow up with those who have tested positive for COVID-19.
• Staff members of long-term care homes who were tested as part of mass testing will be notified directly by Public Health of their test results, once they are available.

Serologic testing detects antibodies that are produced in response to a viral infection of COVID-19. On May 12, 2020, Health Canada authorized the first COVID-19 serological test for use in Canada. Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force will be leading the collection of samples to be tested. Local Public Health Units currently do not have access to this test. For more information, refer to Health Canada’s news release (external link).

Currently, in Canada, laboratories are using nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) to diagnose COVID-19. This test detects genetic material from the COVID-19 virus.

• have been diagnosed with COVID-19;
• have the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting the results of their test;
• have symptoms (even if mild) associated with COVID-19 or have had such symptoms within the past 14 days;
• have come in close contact with someone diagnosed, suspected to have COVID-19, or with symptoms associated with COVID-19; or 
• have been asked to do so by Halton Region Public Health.

If you fall into any of the categories listed above, you are required to self-isolate under a class order issued by the Medical Officer of Health under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Refer to our fact sheet to learn how this order impacts you.

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is also strongly encouraging the following groups to self-isolate as they are at risk of more severe illnesses related to COVID-19:

• those over the age of 70 years;
• those with a compromised immune system; and
• those with underlying medical conditions.

• All publicly-funded schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
• Private schools, licensed child care centres and EarlyON programs will remain closed through Stage 1 of A Framework for Reopening our Province (external link). Reopening of child care centres is expected to begin at the start of Stage 2.
• Summer day camps, both indoor and outdoor, may be permitted in July and August with strict public health measures in place.
• Halton Region Public Health has cancelled all school health programs for the 2019-2020 school year. This includes:
  • cancellation of suspensions and enforcement related to the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) for children born in 2010-2012;
  • vaccine education sessions for parents and guardians; and
  • immunization and oral health clinics.
• School health promotion activities performed by public health nurses will continue to be provided to teachers as they implement online learning programs. 

• Assessment and testing is available for the following populations: 
  • all people with at least one symptom of COVID-19, even for mild symptoms;
  • people who are concerned that they have been exposed to COVID-19 (for example, are contacts of or may have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case); and
  • people who are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their employment, including essential workers (for example, health care workers, grocery store employees, etc.).
• Refer to the COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance on the Ministry of Health Website (external PDF).

• It is now mandatory for all travellers returning to Canada to self-isolate for 14-days from return. If symptoms develop, they are to remain in self-isolation for 14 days from when symptoms began. 
• Returning travelers who are considered “essential workers” at their place of employment may be able to return to work earlier and should consult their employer’s policy for further direction regarding returning to work. They should continue to follow self-isolation guidelines outside of work.

Refer to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website (external link) for more information on the requirements of travellers returning to Canada

• If you have access to testing supplies (nasopharyngeal swabs) AND appropriate personal protective equipment for droplet precautions (gown, gloves, surgical mask, eye protection), you can perform COVID-19 testing in your clinic.
• Anyone with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 can be assessed and tested. (Refer to the Ministry of Health’s Provincial Testing Guidance (external PDF)).
• N95 respirators are NOT required for COVID-19 testing.
• If you are testing someone in your clinic, you must report this to Halton Region Public Health by calling 311.
• If you are not able to perform COVID-19 testing at your clinic:
  • Refer patients who live in Oakville, Milton or Halton Hills to call 905-203-7963 to book an appointment at a Halton Healthcare Assessment Centre.
  • Refer patients who live in Burlington to call 905-632-3737, ext. 6550, to book an appointment at Joseph Brant Hospital COVID-19 Assessment Clinic.

• If you have any questions or concerns about your PPE supply, you may contact the Ministry’s Health Care Provider Hotline at 1-866-212-2272 or by email at emergencymanagement.moh@ontario.ca. Halton Region Public Health does not have access to PPE for primary care physicians.
• Please consult the COVID-19 memo from March 19, 2020 (PDF file) to find a list of alternative specimen collection kits that can be used to collect specimens for COVID-19 testing.
• ​If you have any extra swabs in your office, please consider supporting COVID-19 testing by sharing them with the assessment centre at your local hospital.

• On March 19, 2020, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health issued a directive to health-care providers to stop or reduce all non-essential and elective services to minimal levels, until further notice.
• Physicians are not required to close their offices and services entirely. They should continue to provide medical care that is urgent or essential for patients’ needs. 
• Refer to the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Guidance: Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting (external PDF) for guidance on virtual and in-person care.
• Please see Considerations for Family Physicians: In-person visits when phone/video isn’t enough (external PDF), a resource from the Ontario College of Family Physicians.
• Physicians should conduct both passive screening (signage (PDF file)) and active screening (ask screening questions (PDF file)) for COVID-19 before providing in-person care for patients.
• If an in-person visit is offered, patients should use the provincial self-assessment tool (external link) prior to their visit and wear their own cloth mask to the office/clinic.
• Timely immunization is considered essential care and should be provided to patients as per the Ontario Immunization Schedule, especially for children up to 2 years of age. 
• Please see Considerations for In-Person Visits (PDF file), a resource from the Ontario College of Family Physicians. 

Patients without OHIP coverage are still eligible to access COVID-19 services.

• Updated guidance (PDF file) from the Ontario Ministry of Health, recommends primary care providers defer non-essential visits or use virtual visits where possible.
• The Province has implemented provincial rate and billing code changes to allow for virtual care for patients, including physician services (PDF file), nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work and dietetics.
• Please see the memo and guidance document attached to the March 20, 2020 Physician Update.

For the most recent physician communications from the Halton Region Medical Officer of Health on COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus), please visit our Information for Physicians page.