COVID-19 Information and Guidance

Check the COVID-19 test and testing location information (external link) to determine if you are eligible for COVID-19 testing.

You should be tested if:

• you have COVID-19 symptoms (external PDF);
• you had a high-risk exposure* to COVID-19 (external PDF);
• a self-assessment screening tool (external link) instructed you to;
• you received a notification from the COVID Alert app (external link); and/or
• you have been advised to do so as part of an outbreak investigation.

*you are considered to have had a high-risk exposure if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 because you:

• lived with them;
• had intimate contact with them, or were sneezed or coughed on by them;
• cared for by them, or provided care to them (such as bathing, feeding, or dressing);
• had face-to-face contact with them:
  • for approximately 15 minutes. These 15 minutes can be all at once or in shorter time periods totaling 15 minutes or more;
  • while less than 2 metres (6 feet) apart;
  • regardless of whether you or the other person wore a mask;
  • regardless of whether you were indoors or outdoors; or
  • were in a crowded and/or closed space with them or where they had been (e.g. a room or a gym), regardless of mask use or physical distance.

These are some of the criteria of a high-risk exposure but are not inclusive of all factors. Halton Region Public Health may determine that someone has had a high-risk exposure to COVID-19 based on a complete assessment of the situation.

The Province sets the criteria for testing. Please refer to the Province’s website for the latest COVID-19 test and testing location information (external link) prior to booking a test.

Where to get tested:

For a complete list of testing locations (assessment centres, pharmacies, labs) in Halton visit COVID-19 testing locations (external link).

Assessment Centres in Halton Region

New COVID-19 Testing Centre location operated by Driver Check: Kinoak Arena, 363 Warminster Drive in Oakville (Google map).

• open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• testing is for Halton residents two years and older
• to book, visit drivercheck.ca/ontariohealth (external link) and select the Kinoak Arena location

Book an appointment at a Halton Healthcare Assessment & Testing Centres (external link) (Oakville, Milton, Georgetown)

• By phone:  905-203-7963.
• Online: Online Halton Healthcare Assessment & Testing Centre booking  (external link)

Book an appointment at Joseph Brant Hospital COVID-19 Assessment Centre (external link) (Burlington)

• By phone: 905-632-3737, extension 6550
• Online: Online Joseph Brant Hospital COVID-19 Assessment Centre booking  (external link)

Some pharmacies and Driver Check (external link) offer COVID testing for travel purposes. Fees may apply.

Awaiting test results

• Follow the instructions provided to you by the testing centre
• Check for your test results online (external link)
• If you test positive:
  • continue to self-isolate
  • wait for a phone call from Halton Region Public Health for further instructions
• If you test negative:
  • If you are not fully vaccinated and had a high-risk exposure to COVID-19, you must remain in isolation for 10 days even if you test negative. Read the Province’s High Risk Contact flowchart (external link) for instructions regarding re-testing.
  • If you have symptoms and no high-risk exposure, you need to stay isolated until symptoms have improved for 24 hours.  If you have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, remain isolated until symptoms have stopped for at least 48 hours.
  • If you develop new or worsening symptoms, you may need to be re-tested.

You are required to self-isolate (even if you have received a COVID-19 vaccination) if you:

• are a confirmed or probable case (external PDF) of COVID-19;
• have been tested for COVID-19 because you have new (even mild) symptoms or worsening symptoms and are awaiting test results; or
• have symptoms (even mild symptoms) of COVID-19 or have had such symptoms within the past 10 days.

If you have had a high-risk exposure (“close contact”) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, follow the isolation directions in the High-risk Exposure flowchart (external PDF). This flowchart also includes isolation instructions for your household members.

If you fall into any of the categories listed above, you are required to self-isolate under a Class Order (PDF file) issued by the Medical Officer of Health under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Refer to Halton Region’s Class Order fact sheet (PDF file) to learn how this order impacts you.

Read the following resources for information on how to self-isolate or to care for someone with COVID-19:

• How to self-isolate (external PDF)
• How to care for someone with COVID-19 (external PDF)
• How To care for a child who needs to self-isolate (external PDF)

Travellers entering or returning to Canada

• If you are fully vaccinated:
  On July 5, 2021, the Government of Canada began easing border measures for Canadians and foreign nationals who are eligible to enter. For more information, visit the Government of Canada COVID-19: Entering Canada requirements checklist webpage (external link).
• If you are not fully-vaccinated:
  Border measures are in place with mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival. Exemptions may apply for certain groups such as health care workers. For more information, visit Government of Canada COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders (external link).
• Self-isolation requirements are different for children under 12. For 14 days following international travel, the Government of Canada requires children under 12 to limit contact with others. Children are not permitted to attend school, camp or day care. In alignment with the Government of Canada’s requirement to limit contact with others, Halton Region Public Health is recommending that parents do not send their children under 12 to play sports and other activities involving close contact with others for 14 days following international travel. Please visit the COVID-19: For unvaccinated children under 12 without symptoms and travelling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians (external link) webpage for the full list of requirements relating to children and self-isolation following international travel.

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).

• For updated guidance from the Province, please visit COVID-19: health and safety measures at schools (external link).
• Parents looking for information about the safe operation of schools in Halton, may visit COVID-19 School Information
• School administrators and staff looking for more information on public health guidelines for schools and post-secondary institutions, visit the School Years Program. 

• Child care open for non-school-aged children. This includes child care offered in licensed centres, in home-based settings (licensed and unlicensed) and by authorized recreation and skill-building providers.
• All child care centres and home child care providers are required to have enhanced health and safety measures in place, including but not limited to:
  • enhanced cleaning
  • mandatory screening of staff and children
  • a plan in place to support operation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• See above for more information on requirements for child care operators
• On or after September 1, 2020, operators are permitted to begin charging fees or deposits in order to hold a space. Parents must be given 14 days’ notice to accept a placement for their child that will be available on or after September 1, 2020.
• For information on available child care in Halton, contact the Child Care Directory and Information Line (CCDIL) (external link) at 905-875-0235 or childcaresearch@thrc.ca.

Halton Region continues to offer prenatal and breastfeeding education programs for expecting parents and families with newborns.

To support residents, the Halton Region Health Department is enhancing our free online courses. For more information, visit Halton Region’s webpages on Prenatal classes and supports and Breastfeeding.

The COVID-19 pandemic may be challenging to parents who are not living together but are co-parenting their children.

For tips on co-parenting during this difficult time, as well as guidance on self-isolation, please refer to our fact sheet Public Health Tips for Parents on Sharing Child Custody and Co-Parenting during the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF file).

Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. Trips outside of the home should only be for essential reasons.

Individuals and families who are thinking of travelling to another province should:

• consider the risk associated with travelling – this includes COVID-19 transmission in other provinces and entry restrictions and exemptions (external link) of other provinces or territories.
• review and consider domestic travel requirements (external link).
• self-isolate, or drastically reduce close contact with others 10 to 14 days before travelling and after returning home, to help lower the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
• consider public health advice, and follow any rules and regulations of other provinces.

Do not travel if you are not feeling well.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 at any point during your travel, use the self-assessment tool (external link) to determine what to do next. The screening tool will help determine if you need to seek care or testing, based on your symptoms.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are advised to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice to limit the spread of COVID-19.

If you are still considering travel outside of Canada, you should:

• understand the risks to your safety and security abroad;
• understand that your trip may be extended if border restrictions change;
• check the Government of Canada’s pandemic travel health notice (external link) before travelling; and
• know the health risks and travel restrictions and requirements for your destination.

Travellers entering or returning to Canada

• If you are fully vaccinated:
  On July 5, 2021, the Government of Canada began easing border measures for Canadians and foreign nationals who are eligible to enter. For more information visit the Government of Canada COVID-19: Entering Canada requirements checklist webpage (external link).
• If you are not fully-vaccinated:
  Border measures are in place with mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival. Exemptions may apply for certain groups such as health care workers. For more information visit Government of Canada COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders (external link).
• Self-isolation requirements are different for children under 12. For 14 days following international travel, the Government of Canada requires children under 12 to limit contact with others. Children are not permitted to attend school, camp or day care. In alignment with the Government of Canada’s requirement to limit contact with others, Halton Region Public Health is recommending that parents do not send their children under 12 to play sports and other activities involving close contact with others for 14 days following international travel. Please visit the COVID-19: For unvaccinated children under 12 without symptoms and travelling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians (external link) webpage for the full list of requirements relating to children and self-isolation following international travel.