COVID-19
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have set case definition criteria for outbreaks:
COVID-19 Outbreak in LTCH/RH and Other Congregate Living Settings
Suspect COVID-19 Outbreak:
- One positive PCR OR Rapid molecular test (NAAT) OR Rapid antigen test (RAT) in a resident/patient who has reasonably acquired their infection in the setting.
Confirmed COVID-19 Outbreak:
Two or more residents/patients who are epidemiologically linked (e.g. within a specified area/unit/floor/ward) both with positive results from a PCR test OR rapid molecular test (NAAT) OR rapid antigen test (RAT) within a 7-day period where both cases have reasonable acquired their infection in the setting.
Client Case Definition:
- Two or more new symptoms for the individual.
Clinical Compatible Signs & Symptoms:
- Fever/abnormal temperature
- Dry coughd
- Productive cough
- Headached
- Nasal congestion
- Congestion/sneezing
- Sore Throat/hoarseness
- Muscle aches
- Malaise/fatigue
For more information, refer to Ministry of Health and Long-term Care Appendix 1: Case Definitions and Disease-Specific Information, Disease: Disease caused by novel coronavirus, including Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), May 2023 or as current.
How to report a COVID-19 related deaths?
Any death where COVID-19 is a contributing factor as the cause of death, should be reported in COVID-19 cases where there is no clear alternative cause of death (e.g., trauma, drug toxicity, other natural death process, at a time that the person was COVID-19 test positive but did not have a clinically compatible illness), and the death occurred under one of the following circumstances:
- The case was still symptomatic or infected at the time of death.
- The case was experiencing residual effects or complications of infection that persisted.
- The case is a child that was experiencing multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) which can occur after resolution of initial COVID-19 signs and symptom.
Using information from the Medical Certificate of Death, please complete the COVID-Related Death Reporting Form.
Information and Resources for COVID-19
Guidance Documents for Health Care Providers
- Government of Ontario COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool
- Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment for Health Care Workers and Health Care Entities
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Sector-based Guidance Documents for Healthcare
Guidance Documents for Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
- Ministry of Health:
- COVID-19 Guidance: Long-Term Care Homes, Retirement Homes, and Other Congregate Living Settings for Public Health Units
- COVID-19 Guidance: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Health Care Workers and Health Care Entities
- Screening Tool for Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes
- Covid-19 Guidance Document for Long-term Care Homes in Ontario
- Government of Ontario:
- Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility:
- Public Health Agency of Canada:
- Public Health Ontario:
- COVID-19 Long-Term Care Resources – Checklists, presentations, fact sheets and more
Guidance Documents for Congregate Living Settings
- Ministry of Health:
- Government of Ontario:
- Public Health Ontario:
- Ontario Health West:
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care:
- Government of Canada:
- Public Health Ontario:
- COVID-19 Vaccines (includes AEFI Reporting and Surveillance Reports)
- National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI):
COVID-19 Screening and Assessment
- Government of Ontario:
Covid-19 Testing
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Testing Guidance
- COVID-19 Sample Collection
- Submitting a Sample (COVID-19 Requisition)
- COVID-19 Test Requisition (How to Complete)
Routine Auditing
- Public Health Ontario:
Additional Resources
- Ministry of Health:
- Public Health Ontario:
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: