Minimizing the Risk
Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health:
- wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- sneeze and cough into your sleeve
- avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- avoid contact with people who are sick
- stay home if you are sick
- wear a mask
- follow protocols mandated in stores, restaurants, and public spaces
Practice Physical Distancing
With the rise in COVID-19 cases from community transmission, everyone in the community should be practicing physical distancing to reduce their exposure to other people and slow the spread of the disease. Practice physical distancing by:
- avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings
- avoiding common greetings, such as handshakes, hugs
- limiting contact with people at higher risk (e.g. older adults and those in poor health)
- keeping a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others, as much as possible
Symptoms of COVID-19
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- fever
- cough
- difficulty breathing
- muscle aches
- fatigue
- headache
- sore throat
- runny nose
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate at home and seek clinical assessment over the phone. Contact your primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000).
Community Resources
For the latest information on COVID-19, see the Ontario Government’s COVID-19 page (https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus).
COVID-19 Patient Resources
Telehealth Ontario
1-866-797-0000
Ontario Goverment COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information Page
https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus
COVID-19 Assessment Centre Locations
https://covid-19.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations/
How to Properly Wash Hands and Use Sanitizer
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet/factsheet-covid-19-hand-hygiene.pdf?la=en
Social Distancing – What Does It Mean and How Can We Practice It
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/diseases-conditions/social-distancing-infograph/social-distancing-infograph-eng.pdf
Self Assessment Tool (Telus Health)
https://covid19.akirahealth.ca/?fbclid=IwAR0Krtl7TSMdP28HRed2dfg9HLSX31tZ-tXY4_wJ4Cr_IkXOl8cCdauevrI
Self Assessment (Ontario Government)
https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-self-assessment
How to Self Monitor (Ontario Public Health)
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19-self-monitor.pdf?la=en
How to Self Isolate (Ontario Public Health)
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate.pdf?la=en
Self-Isolation: Guide for Caregivers, Household Members and Close Contacts (Ontario Public Health)
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19-guide-isolation-caregivers.pdf?la=en
Know the Difference: Self Monitoring, Self-Isolation and Isolation for COVID-19 (Public Health Agency of Canada)
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/diseases-conditions/know-difference-self-monitoring-isolation-covid-19/know-difference-self-monitoring-isolation-covid-19-eng.pdf
How to Isolate at Home When You Have COVID-19 (Public Health Agency of Canada)
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/diseases-maladies/covid-19-how-to-isolate-at-home/isolate-eng.pdf