COVID-19 Information and Guidance

If you have been exposed to someone with symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result, you must do the following for the 10 days following your last exposure:

• Self-monitor for symptoms. If you develop symptoms, get tested if you are eligible and self-isolate immediately.
• Wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings, avoid activities where mask removal is necessary (such as dining out, high contact sports) and follow all other public health measures if leaving home.
• Do not visit any highest-risk settings (such as long-term care or retirement homes) or people who may be at higher risk of illness (such as seniors).

Highest risk settings include:

• acute care settings such as hospitals, including complex continuing care facilities;
• congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including but not limited to long-term care homes, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, correctional institutions, and hospital schools; and
• employer-provided living settings of international agricultural workers.

If you work in one of these highest risk settings you should:

• speak with your employer to report the exposure and follow workplace guidance for return to work;
• self-monitor for symptoms for a total of 10 days after the last exposure; and
• self-isolate immediately if you develop any symptom of COVID-19 and seek testing if eligible.

To help ensure sufficient staffing levels, workers in these settings may be asked to return to work immediately with additional precautions such as testing. For more information, speak with your employer.

If you live in or have been admitted to one of these highest risk settings you should:

• self-monitor for symptoms for a total of 10 days after the last exposure;
• self-isolate immediately if you develop any symptom of COVID-19 and seek testing if eligible; and
• you may be required to isolate following a high-risk exposure. Follow the direction from Public Health or the hospital IPAC team for hospitalized patients.

Symptoms of COVID and the flu are very similar

Visit the Province’s COVID-19 testing and treatment webpage to see who can visit a clinical assessment centre (external link).

Currently there is one clinical assessment centre in Halton, the Oakville COVID, Cold and Flu Clinic.

• Location: 231 Oak Park Boulevard, Unit 110, Oakville, ON L6H 7S8 (Google Maps link)
• Contact: Care-Clinics.ca (external link) or 905-901-5111

A complete list of clinical assessment centres in Halton and across Ontario can be found on the Provincial website (external link).

Eligible Ontarians can now visit local pharmacies for Paxlovid prescriptions (external link). Visit the Province’s COVID-19 testing and treatment webpage (external link) to see if you are eligible for COVID-19 antiviral treatment.

If you require a test for outbound international travel, private COVID-19 tests are available for purchase throughout Ontario.

Halton Region Public Health does not have a role in actions associated with Testing and Quarantine requirements for Travel. This falls under federal jurisdiction. Please visit the Government of Canada COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders webpage for current information (external link).

If you have additional questions, please contact the Public Health Agency COVID-19 information line (external link) directly at 1-833-784-4397. Hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to midnight. Interpretation services are available in 200+ languages.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR testing) is available only to people in certain groups. Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 testing and treatment webpage to find out who is eligible for PCR testing (external link).

Members of the general public with mild symptoms should use a rapid antigen test (RAT). If you test positive on a RAT, it is highly likely that you have COVID-19. You do not need a PCR test to confirm the result.

If you’re eligible for a PCR test, you can book your appointment at a testing location near you (external link). Anyone who does not meet the eligibility criteria may be turned away if they do not qualify.

There is no clinical assessment available at the testing sites in Halton. If you want to be assessed for your symptoms, then visit your primary care physician or go to a clinical assessment center (CAC). Find a list of PCR testing sites and clinic assessment centers here (external link).

Halton Region Paramedics will only provide in-home PCR testing to palliative patients, due to changes to COVID-19 testing criteria, isolation guidelines, and the availability of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs). Eligible residents should speak to their health care provider for a referral for in-home COVID-19 testing.

While waiting for a PCR test result, isolate from others if you have COVID-19 symptoms. Visit the Province’s public health measures and advice webpage (external link) and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment (external link) for further instructions.

To access COVID-19 test results online (external link) you will need either the Ontario health card you used to take your test, or a label with a medical record number (MRN) and verification code. If you cannot access test results through this site, please contact the testing location or your health care provider.

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) should not be relied on as a way to determine whether to attend social activities. Instead, individuals should follow existing public health measures, regardless of RAT use and self-isolate if experiencing symptoms.

People with symptoms

If you have symptoms and are not eligible for PCR or molecular point-of-care testing, use a rapid antigen test if you have access to one. If you have symptoms and test positive on a RAT, it is highly likely that you have COVID-19. A confirmatory PCR test is not required.

Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms who use RATs should be aware that they may produce false negative results (that is, testing negative but still being infected), particularly early in COVID-19 infection. If you repeat testing at least 24-48 hours after your first negative test and test negative again, you can be more confident in your negative status.

Symptomatic individuals who may be eligible for treatment (external link) and have an initial negative RAT result are strongly recommended to seek PCR or molecular point-of-care testing as soon as possible given the time frame for receiving therapeutics.

People without symptoms

Be aware that RATs have a low sensitivity for COVID-19 in people who do not have symptoms (“asymptomatic”). This means that a negative result could be a false negative in asymptomatic individuals.

Depending on supply, RATs are available free of charge through the following locations:

• participating pharmacies and grocery stores. Check ontario.ca/rapidtests for locations (external link)
• incorporated small and medium-sized businesses may be eligible to receive rapid tests from a Health Canada-authorized pharmacy (external link)
• eligible businesses may apply to participate in the Provincial Antigen Screening Program (external link)

1. If you test positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or RAT test and (a.) are residing in a high risk setting (external PDF) OR (b.) are hospitalized for COVID-19 related illness (not requiring ICU level of care) OR (c.) are immunocompromised (external PDF):
   • you must self-isolate for at least 10 days after you tested positive or your symptoms started (whichever is earlier); and
   • your isolation period may be modified depending on setting-specific guidance provided in highest risk settings.
2. If you test positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or RAT test, have COVID-19 symptoms and do not meet the criteria described above (see #1):
   • you must self-isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present.
3. If you test positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or RAT test, do not have COVID-19 symptoms and do not meet the criteria described above (see #1):
   • you do not need to self-isolate unless symptoms develop. If symptoms develop, self-isolate immediately.

Inform all of your household members and social contacts as soon as possible. Visit the Exposure to COVID-19 section of this page and the Province’s public health measures and advice webpage (external link) for more information.

Speak to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse practitioner about Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment taken to reduce severe outcomes of COVID-19.

Prescriptions are available for free to eligible individuals through pharmacies across the province (external link), any physician or nurse practitioner in Ontario, as well as clinical assessment centres (external link).

Residents eligible for Paxlovid include individuals who:

• have tested positive using a PCR, rapid molecular or RAT test, including rapid tests done at home; AND
• are 60 years of age or older; OR
• are 18 years of age or older and immunocompromised; OR
• are 18-59 years old and at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes including having chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, heart disease); OR
• are 18 years of age or older and have inadequate immunity to COVID-19 (e.g. not up to date on vaccines).

If you tested positive using a RAT test you do not need a PCR test to confirm that you are positive for most settings. You do not need to report your test results to Halton Region Public Health.

In certain situations, you may be contacted by public health. If you are contacted by public health, follow the instructions that are provided to you.

For information on how to self-isolate please visit the following links:

• How to self-isolate (external PDF)
• How to care for someone with COVID-19 (external PDF)

Travellers entering or returning to Canada

• For information on travel-related requirements, visit the Government of Canada COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders webpage (external link).
• Local Public Health Units, including Halton Region Public Health, do not have the authority to grant exemptions to the Government of Canada Quarantine Act (external link).
• Halton Region Public Health is unable to provide letters related to individual isolation requirements or end of isolation dates.

You are NOT required to provide a negative test result in order to return to work, school, child care or other activities after you have completed your isolation period.

A person can return to work, school or child care if:

• They have completed the recommended self-isolation period as applicable;
• Their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms); and
• They do not have a fever.

For individuals who must self-isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present OR for individuals who do not have symptoms and do not need to self-isolate unless symptoms develop:

• for a total of 10 days after you tested positive or your symptoms started (whichever is earlier):
  • continue to wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and childcare, unless under 2 years old) and avoid non-essential activities where mask removal is necessary (e.g., dining out, playing a wind instrument, high contact sports where masks cannot be safely worn);
  • do not visit anyone who is immunocompromised or at higher risk of illness (e.g., seniors); and
  • avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings such as hospitals and long-term care homes.

It is important to maintain masking, physical distancing and adherence to all other public health measures if leaving home, following self-isolation.

After completing self-isolation, regularly follow these tips for cleaning and disinfecting (external link) to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in your home.

If a child or a person who needs support with daily living (such as bathing, feeding, clothing) has COVID-19 or was exposed to COVID-19, parents and caregivers should continue providing care and support to them, but should follow additional measures to protect themselves and others in the home.

For more information, review:

• Advice about caring for individuals with COVID-19 from the Government of Canada (external link)
• Guide for Caregivers, Household Members and Close Contacts from Public Health Ontario (external PDF)

Coping with or caring for a child with symptoms of COVID-19 can be stressful. It is important to closely monitor your child. Learn more about caring for a child with COVID-19 through the Hospital for Sick Children’s COVID-19 Learning Hub (external link).

You should go to a hospital right away if your child shows the following signs and symptoms:

• Persistent fever (3 days or longer)
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish color around the lips or on skin
• Unable to drink enough fluids or signs of dehydration (e.g. not making tears when crying, urinating less than usual)
• Unable to wake up or interact
• Being irritable (e.g. not wanting to be held)

After your self-isolation period is complete (if applicable), you must continue to wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings for a total of 10 days after symptom onset (or date of test, whichever is earlier). For more information, visit the Province’s public health measures and advice webpage (external link).

For a total of 10 days after the last exposure to the COVID-19 positive case or individual with COVID-19 symptoms, close contacts should wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings:

• Maintain masking as much as possible in public settings (including school and child care, unless under 2 years old). Reasonable exceptions include removal of mask for essential activities like eating, while maintaining as much distancing as possible;
• Participation in activities where masking can be maintained throughout may be resumed, but individuals should avoid activities where mask removal would be necessary (e.g., dining out; playing a wind instrument; high contact sports where masks cannot be safely worn); and
• Individuals who are unable to mask (e.g., children under 2 years of age, etc.) may return to public settings without masking.

When wearing a mask, be sure to wear one that is well-fitted, well-constructed and fully covers your nose, mouth and chin with no gaps. Medical masks or a non-fit tested respirator (N95s, KN95s) are preferred, but a cloth mask that has at least 3 layers (e.g. two cloth layers with a filter in between) is also acceptable.

Health Canada recommendations regarding COVID-19 mask use:

• Types of masks and respirators. (external PDF)
• How to choose, use and care for a mask (external PDF)
• How to make sure your mask fits properly (external PDF)
• Advice for community settings (external)

Public Health Ontario recommendations regarding COVID-19 mask use:

• Optimizing the Use of Masks Against COVID-19 (external PDF)

Ventilation helps protect against the spread of COVID-19.

• See Health Canada’s tips on how you can improve ventilation and air filtration in your home (external PDF).
• Watch this video on ways to improve ventilation and air filtration in your home (external video).
• For more information, visit Health Canada’s COVID-19: Improving indoor ventilation webpage (external link).

Hands can carry and spread germs. Maintaining good hand hygiene is an important step to reduce the risk of becoming infected with, or spreading COVID-19.

Hand hygiene means washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

• Watch this video on how to safely wash and sanitize your hands (external video).
• For more information, visit Health Canada: COVID-19 Prevention for Individuals (external link).

Physical distancing means staying two metres (six feet) from people outside of your household whenever possible. You do not need to physically distance from people in your immediate household. However, this may change if you or they are in isolation.

Physical distancing can slow the spread of COVID-19 by stopping the chain of transmission.

• Watch this video on how to practice physical distancing (external video).
• For more information, visit Health Canada: COVID-19 Prevention for Individuals (external link).