COVID-19 Disease

HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS? Contact a qualified health professional through Health 811 (formerly Health Connect Ontario), 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

• call 811; toll-free TTY: 1-866-797-0007
• visit Health811 online

What is COVID-19 and how does it spread?

• COVID-19 is a respiratory infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It was first identified in late 2019.
• The COVID-19 virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles or droplets when they cough, sneeze, speak or breathe.
• These particles may be larger respiratory droplets or smaller aerosols.
• The virus may also spread when a person touches another person (i.e., a handshake) or a surface or an object that has the virus on it, and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands.

How can I protect myself from getting COVID-19?

• Use the layers of protection approach to reduce the risk of illness; learn more on the layers of protection web page.
• Vaccination against COVID-19 is a very important layer; learn more about how to get vaccinated on our dedicated COVID-19 Vaccines web page.
• These layers will help to protect everyone, especially those who are at higher risk of developing severe outcomes from these viruses.
• Each layer of protection helps prevent the spread of germs and when combined together, they lower the risk of illness impacting our schools, workplaces and heath care system.

What are the symptoms and what should I do if I have symptoms?

• The symptoms of COVID-19 are very similar to other viruses (flu) that circulate throughout the respiratory illness season.
• However, there are some symptoms that are unique to COVID-19. 
• See the section below "What should I do if I have symptoms?".

What should I do if I have symptoms?

Stay home and self-isolate; learn how to properly self-isolate when you have COVID-19

Determine if you are eligible for testing; see the section below "Am I eligible to get tested if I have symptoms?"

End self-isolation when all of the following apply to you:

• your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea)
• you do not have a fever
• you have not developed additional symptoms

It's recommended to stay home if you're not well.

Continue to take additional precautions for up to 10 days after your symptoms started. 

Get more information for caregivers, household members and close contacts

EXPOSED AT WORK? If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and work in a high-risk setting (such as a hospital, a long-term care home, or a retirement home), you should speak with your employer and follow your workplace guidance for return to work.

Am I eligible to get tested if I have symptoms?

FREE testing is only available to those who have symptoms and are eligible for treatment due to changes in the Ontario Ministry of Health program.

The testing is provided to determine if treatment is needed.

• Learn more about treatment on the Ontario web page

Call your local pharmacy or health care provider to see if they offer testing and treatment to anyone who is eligible in the following groups: 

• people aged 65 years of age and older
• people aged 18 years of age and older who have at least one condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease
• people who are immunocompromised
• residents and patients in certain high-risk settings including hospitals and congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals (for example, in long-term care and other specific populations and settings)
• people in the context of suspected or confirmed outbreaks, as directed by the local public health unit (TBDHU)

MORE INFORMATION: Learn more by visiting Ontario's COVID-19 testing web page including ELIGIBILITY  and TEST RESULTS

For Further Information

Call the Infectious Disease Program: (807) 625-5900

or toll-free 1-888-294-6630