COVID-19

About Coronavirus

What is it?

COVID-19 is an illness caused by a coronavirus.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some can infect animals, and some can infect humans. COVID-19 is a new disease caused by the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019. COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March 2020.

Those who are infected with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms. Symptoms of COVID-19 are often similar to other illnesses.

Symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19 can:

    • take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to the virus
    • be very mild or more serious
    • vary from person to person

Spread

Coronaviruses are most commonly spread from an infected person through:

  • respiratory droplets when you cough or sneeze
  • close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
  • touching something with the virus on it, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands

These viruses are not known to spread through ventilation systems or through water.

Prevention

The best way to prevent the spread of infections is to:

  • practice physical distancing at all times
  • stay home if you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others
  • wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands
  • avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • when coughing or sneezing:
    • cover your mouth and nose with your arm or tissues to reduce the spread of germs
    • immediately dispose of any tissues you have used into the garbage as soon as possible and wash your hands afterwards
  • clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, such as toys, electronic devices and doorknobs
  • wear a non-medical mask or face covering (i.e. constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping, and secured to the head by ties or ear loops) to protect the people and surfaces around you

If you have symptoms

If you have symptoms of COVID-19:

  • stay home (isolate) to avoid spreading it to others
    • if you live with others, stay in a separate room or keep a 2-metre distance
  • call ahead before you visit a health care professional or call your local public health authority
    • tell them your symptoms and follow their instructions
  • if you need immediate medical attention, call 911 and tell them your symptoms

Reduce the Spread

Help reduce the spread of COVID-19

Take steps to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

  • follow the advice of your local public health authority
  • wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth
  • avoid close contact with people who are sick and practice physical distancing
  • cough and sneeze into your sleeve and not your hands
  • stay home as much as possible and if you need to leave the house practice physical distancing (approximately 2m)

Going out Safely

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Going out safely during COVID-19

Make informed choices

  • Stay home and away from others if you feel sick or have been told to isolate or quarantine.
  • Avoid closed spaces (with poor ventilation), and crowded places with people from outside of your immediate household.
  • Follow public health advice and setting-specific measures.
  • Consider the spread of COVID-19 in your community, including variants of concern.
  • Consider your personal risk level, especially if you are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes.
  • Consider the risk level of those in your immediate household.
  • Consider the impact on your livelihood and personal circumstances if you need to quarantine or isolate.
  • Consider limiting the use of alcohol and other substances that could impair your judgment and reduce your ability to follow public health advice.

Be COVID-wise

While vaccines roll out across Canada, continue to choose lower-risk activities and settings to protect yourself and others. Getting vaccinated helps to protect you, but for now, vaccines do not replace the need for all other public health measures, including personal preventive practices.

Risk is lower when

  • You keep your close contacts to only those in your immediate household.
  • You remain outdoors when with people from outside of your immediate household.
  • You and/or those around you are following personal preventive practices:
    • keeping interactions as few, as brief, and from the greatest physical distance possible
    • wearing a mask, and
    • sanitizing or washing hands with soap and water
  • The setting has many public health measures in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This is even more important with the spread of variants of concern.
  • The setting is well ventilated with fresh air from a ventilation system or open doors and/or windows.

Risk is higher when

  • You increase your close contacts with people from outside of your immediate household.
  • You spend time indoors in closed spaces (with poor ventilation) and crowded places with people from outside your immediate household.
  • You and/or those around you are not following personal preventive practices:
    • interactions are not few or brief and not from the greatest physical distance possible
    • not wearing a mask, and
    • not sanitizing or washing hands
  • The setting doesn’t have or has limited public health measures in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, and variants of concern.
  • The setting is poorly ventilated from lack of ventilation systems or not being able to open doors and/or windows.

Remember that: Things can change, and a lower risk situation can become higher risk. Think about the risks not only before you go out, but also while you’re out.

Be prepared

Be prepared for COVID-19

 

Canada’s health system is ready to respond to cases that arise in Canada, but it is important that individuals and communities are ready if there is widespread illness here at home.

Plan ahead

Take time to consider what you will do if you or a family member becomes sick and needs care. Think about:

  • What food and household supplies you need for you and your family
  • What medicines you need, including renewing and refilling prescriptions ahead of time

Discuss your plans with your family, friends and neighbours, and set up a system to check in on each other by phone, email or text during times of need.

Get prepared

Have supplies on hand so you do not need to leave your home if you become ill. Add a few extra items to your grocery cart every time you shop. This places less of a burden on suppliers, and can help ease financial burden on you as well.

Supplies:

  • dried pasta and rice
  • pasta sauces
  • canned soups, vegetables and beans
  • fever-reducing medications (acetaminophen or ibuprofen for adults and children)
  • pet food and supplies
  • thermometer
  • diapers
  • soap
  • facial tissue
  • toilet paper
  • feminine hygiene products
  • paper towels
  • plastic garbage bags
  • alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
  • dish soap
  • laundry detergent
  • regular household cleaning products
  • hard surface disinfectant, or if not available, concentrated (5%) liquid bleach and a separate container for dilution

Stay healthy and limit spread

  • Practice physical distancing at all times.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Sneeze or cough into your arm or sleeve.
  • Consider a wave in place of a handshake, a hug or kiss.
  • Reduce your exposure to crowded places by shopping or using transit during non-peak hours.
  • Encourage those you know are sick to stay home until they no longer have symptoms.
  • If you become ill, stay home until you are no longer showing symptoms. Contact your health care professional or local public health authority and tell them your symptoms. They will give you advice about what to do next.
  • Some people may transmit COVID-19 even though they do not show any symptoms. Wearing a mask, including a non-medical mask or face covering (i.e. made with at least two layers of tightly woven fabric, constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping, and secured to the head by ties or ear loops) can help protect others around you.

Caregivers

How to care for a person with COVID-19 at home: Advice for caregivers

If you are caring for a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, follow this advice to protect yourself and others in the home, as well as those in your community.

Limit contact

  • Only one healthy person should provide care.
  • Do not share personal items with the ill person, such as toothbrushes, towels, bed linen, utensils or electronic devices.
  • Use a separate bathroom from the ill person, if possible.
    • If not possible, the ill person should put the toilet lid down before flushing.
  • Some people may transmit COVID-19 even though they do not show any symptoms. Wearing a mask, including a non-medical mask or face covering (i.e. made with at least two layers of tightly woven fabric, constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping, and secured to the head by ties or ear loops) can help protect others around you.
  • Prevent contact with animals, as there have been several reports of people transmitting COVID-19 to their pets.

Protect yourself

  • If you are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes you should not care for someone with COVID-19 (if possible).
  • If you need to be within 2 metres of the ill person, wear personal protective equipment:
    • a medical mask
    • disposable gloves
    • eye protection
  • Wear disposable gloves when touching the ill person, their environment and soiled items or surfaces.
  • Avoid re-using medical masks or gloves.
  • Clean your hands often for at least 20 seconds, especially after contact with the ill person and after removing gloves, face masks and eye protection.
  • Dry your hands with disposable paper towels.
    • If not available, use a reusable towel and replace it when it becomes wet.
  • You can also remove dirt with a wet wipe and then use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Wearing masks

  • Medical masks are recommended for people with COVID-19 in the home and to protect those providing direct care to them.
  • N95 respirators must be reserved for health care workers and should not be used for caregiving at home.
  • If medical masks are not available, non-medical masks or face coverings (i.e. constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping, and secured to the head by ties or ear loops) can be worn by the ill person, if tolerable. This will cover their mouth and nose, and may prevent respiratory droplets from contaminating others or landing on surfaces.
  • A non-medical mask or face covering may also be worn by those providing direct care to COVID-19 patients at home. However, wearing a non-medical mask or facial covering in the community has not been proven to protect the person wearing it.
  • Strict hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and maintaining a physical distance of at least 2 metres from the ill person, will reduce the chance of being exposed to the virus.
  • Non-medical cloth masks should be carefully removed when soiled or damp, laundered in hot water and then dried thoroughly.
  • Hands must be cleaned before and after putting on and removing a mask.

Keep your environment clean

  • Place used medical masks, gloves and other contaminated items in a lined container, secure the contents and dispose of them with other household waste.
  • Place possibly contaminated laundry, including non-medical cloth masks and facial coverings, into a container with a plastic liner and do not shake.
    • Wash with regular laundry soap and hot water (60-90°C), and dry well.
    • Clothing, linens and non-medical cloth masks and facial coverings belonging to the ill person can be washed with other laundry.
  • At least once daily, clean and disinfect surfaces that people touch often, such as toilets, laundry containers, bedside tables, doorknobs, phones and television remotes.
  • Use only approved hard-surface disinfectants that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN). A DIN is an 8-digit number given by Health Canada that confirms the disinfectant product is approved and safe for use in Canada.
  • When approved hard surface disinfectants are not available, for household disinfection, a diluted bleach solution can be prepared in accordance with the instructions on the label, or in a ratio of 5 millilitres (mL) of bleach per 250 mL of water OR 20 mL of bleach per litre of water. This ratio is based on bleach containing 5% sodium hypochlorite, to give a 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution. Follow instructions for proper handling of household (chlorine) bleach.
  • If they can withstand the use of liquids for disinfection, high-touch electronic devices (e.g. keyboards, tablets, smartboards) may be disinfected with 70% alcohol (e.g. alcohol prep wipes) at least daily.

Monitor yourself for symptoms

  • If you have always used the recommended precautions, then monitor yourself for symptoms for 14 days following your last close contact with the ill person.
  • Quarantine (self-isolate) at home for 14 days from your last exposure and contact your local public health authority if you have no symptoms but:
    • cared for a person who has COVID-19 without the recommended personal protective equipment
    • live with or had close physical contact (e.g. intimate partner) without using the recommended personal protective equipment
    • live with or have had regular close contact (within 2 metres) with a person who has COVID-19 up to 48 hours prior to symptom onset or while they were symptomatic and not isolating
    • had direct contact with the body fluids of a person who has COVID-19 (e.g. were coughed or sneezed on) without the recommended personal protective equipment

If you start to develop symptoms, isolate yourself as quickly as possible and contact your local public health authority for further instructions.

Maintain these supplies

  • Medical masks if available, or non-medical mask or face covering
  • Eye protection (face shield or goggles) for use by caregiver
  • Disposable gloves (do not re-use) for use by caregiver
  • Disposable paper towels
  • Tissues
  • Waste container with plastic liner
  • Thermometer
  • Over the counter medication to reduce fever (e.g. ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
  • Running water
  • Hand soap
  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
  • Dish soap
  • Regular laundry soap
  • Regular household cleaning products
  • One-step cleaner/disinfectant
  • Hard surface disinfectant, or if not available, concentrated (5%) liquid bleach and a separate container for dilution
  • Alcohol prep wipes or appropriate cleaning products for high-touch electronics

Isolate at Home

How to isolate at home when you may have COVID-19

Isolation means staying at home when you have a symptom of COVID-19 and it is possible that you have been exposed to the virus. By avoiding contact with other people, you help prevent the spread of disease to others in your home and your community. You must:

  • go directly home and/or stay at home if you have:
    • been diagnosed with COVID-19, or are waiting to hear the results of a lab test for COVID-19
    • any symptom of COVID-19, even if mild, and have
      • been in contact with a suspected, probable or confirmed case of COVID-19
      • been told by public health (directly, through public communications or through a self-assessment tool) that you may have been exposed to COVID-19
    • returned from travel outside Canada with symptoms of COVID-19 (mandatory)Footnote *
  • monitor your symptoms as directed by your healthcare provider or Public Health Authority until they advise you that you are no longer at risk of spreading the virus to others
  • immediately contact your healthcare provider or Public Health Authority and follow their instructions if your symptoms get worse

Limit contact with others

  • Do not leave home unless it is to seek time-sensitive medical services.
  • Do not use public transportation (such as municipal transit, taxis or ride-share services).
  • Arrange to have groceries and supplies dropped off at your door to minimize contact.
  • Avoid isolating at home if you cannot separate yourself from those who live with you. For example, if:
    • you live in a group or communal living setting
    • you share a small apartment
    • you live in the same household with large families or many people
    • you have roommates who have not travelled with you that you cannot avoid
    • your location is a camp, student dorm or other group setting where there is close contact and you share common spaces
  • Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible.
    • This includes if you are living with friends/family who did not travel with you.
  • Thoroughly and regularly clean and disinfect common areas after use.
  • If you have to be in contact with others, practise physical distancing and keep at least 2 metres between yourself and the other person.
  • Avoid contact with people who are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes.
  • If you are staying in a hotel, do no use shared spaces, such as lobbies, courtyards, restaurants, gyms or pools.
  • Keep any interactions brief and wear a medical mask if available when you need to be in the same room with others in the home, or when coughing or sneezing.
    • If unavailable, wear a non-medical mask or facial covering:
      • made with at least 2 layers of tightly woven fabric
      • constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping
      • secured to the head by ties or ear loops
  • Follow instructions online for the safe use and disposal or laundering of face masks, or as provided by your Public Health Authority.
  • Avoid contact with animals, as there have been several reports of people transmitting COVID-19 to their pets.

Keep your hands clean

  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, and dry with disposable paper towels or dry reusable towel, replacing it when it becomes wet.
  • You can also remove dirt with a wet wipe and then use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Cough or sneeze into the bend of your arm or into a tissue.

Avoid contaminating common items and surfaces

  • At least once daily, clean and disinfect surfaces that you touch often, like toilets, bedside tables, doorknobs, phones and television remotes.
  • Do not share personal items with others, such as toothbrushes, towels, bed linen, utensils or electronic devices.
  • To disinfect, use only approved hard-surface disinfectants that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN).
    • A DIN is an 8-digit number given by Health Canada that confirms the disinfectant product is approved and safe for use in Canada.
  • Place contaminated items that cannot be cleaned in a lined container, secure the contents and dispose of them with other household waste.
  • Put the lid of the toilet down before flushing.
  • Wearing a face mask, including a non-medical mask or facial covering may trap respiratory droplets and stop them from contaminating surfaces around you.
    • It should be made with at least 2 layers of tightly woven fabric, constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping and secured to the head by ties or ear loops.
    • Wearing a mask does not reduce the need for cleaning and disinfecting.

Care for yourself

  • Monitor your symptoms as directed by your health care provider or Public Health Authority.
  • If your symptoms get worse, immediately contact your health care provider or public health authority and follow their instructions.
  • If you are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes, you should monitor yourself for worsening or urgent symptoms, such as:
    • new or worsening cough
    • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • temperature equal to or over 38°C
    • feeling feverish
    • chills
    • fatigue or weakness
    • muscle or body aches
    • new loss of smell or taste
    • headache
    • gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting)
    • feeling very unwell
  • If you develop urgent symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency help line and inform them that you:
    • may have COVID-19
    • are at high risk for complications
  • Get some rest, eat a balanced diet and stay in touch with others through communication devices.

Supplies to have at home when isolating

  • Medical masks if available for the case and the caregiver
    • If unavailable, wear non-medical masks or facial coverings:
      • made with at least 2 layers of tightly woven fabric
      • constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping
      • secured to the head by ties or ear loops
  • Eye protection (face shield or goggles) for use by caregiver
  • Disposable gloves (do not re-use) for use by caregiver
  • Disposable paper towels
  • Tissues
  • Waste container with plastic liner
  • Thermometer
  • Over the counter medication to reduce fever (e.g., ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
  • Running water
  • Hand soap
  • Alcohol-based sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
  • Dish soap
  • Regular laundry soap
  • Regular household cleaning products
  • Hard-surface disinfectant
    • If unavailable, use concentrated (5%) liquid bleach and a separate container for dilution
  • Alcohol prep wipes or appropriate cleaning products for high-touch electronics

Life after Vaccination

COVID-19: Life after vaccination

More people getting vaccinated means fewer people getting sick. When you get your shot, you make it safer in your community so that certain measures can be lifted and we can gather safely.

Spring

Cases are high and vaccine coverage is low.

Continue following local public health advice and maintain individual protective measures whether or not you have been vaccinated to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe.

More people need to be vaccinated before restrictions can be lifted.

Reach out to help friends, family or neighbours who might need help booking or getting to a vaccination appointment.

  • Stay home.
  • Stay safe.
  • Get vaccinated.

Summer

Cases are low and vaccine coverage is high for one dose and increasing for second.

If 75% of those eligible for vaccines have one dose and 20% have a second dose.

Then restrictions start to lift based on conditions in your area, but you still need to follow local public health advice and keep up with individual measures like physical distancing and wearing a mask.

You can look forward to small, outdoor gatherings with family and friends.

You should still avoid crowds, but could be able to:

  • go camping
  • go hiking
  • have picnics
  • be on patios

Fall

Cases are low and two-dose vaccine coverage is high.

If 75% of those eligible for vaccines have received a full COVID-19 vaccination series.

Then local public health will be able to lift more measures and you should be able to do more activities indoors with people outside your household.

However, COVID-19 will not be eliminated so you will still need to follow some public health measures.

You could be able to attend:

  • colleges
  • indoor sports
  • family gatherings