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COVID-19 Information & Services (last updated March 27 2020)

News > COVID-19 Information & Services (last updated March 27 2020)

 

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

 

1. PROTECT YOURSELF:

SOURCE: City of Toronto

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed by:

PRACTICING “PHYSICAL DISTANCING”: This means stay at home as much as possible

CANCEL ALL GROUP GATHERINGS

  • No parties or playdates with other children
  • Connect with friends by phone, email, video or social media
  • Do not visit friends or family in long-term care homes, retirement homes or other care settings

LIMIT YOUR TRIPS OUTDOORS

  • Go outside for essential trips only such as groceries, work and exercise
  • Keep a distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from others
  • Avoid crowded parks and playgrounds, which are not cleaned or sanitized
  • Greet others with a wave, a bow or a nod (in place of handshakes or hugs)
  • Sanitize or wash your hands when entering and exiting buildings
  • No more than three people per elevator and use an elbow to press buttons if you can
  • Avoid long lineups
  • Use tap to pay rather than handling money
  • When taking public transit, avoid prolonged close contact with others:
    • Travel during non-peak hours
    • Take shorter trips rather than one long trip

PRACTICING CAREFUL HYGIENE

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
  • Avoid close contact with people who are ill;
  • Stay home when you are ill;
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the garbage and wash your hands;
  • If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm;
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

 

2. LEARN THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19:

SOURCE: Government of Ontario

Symptoms range from mild – like the flu and other common respiratory infections – to severe. The most common symptoms include:

  • fever
  • cough
  • difficulty breathing
  • muscle aches
  • fatigue
  • headache
  • sore throat
  • runny nose

 

3. TAKE PRECAUTIONS IF YOU START TO FEEL SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19:

SOURCE: Government of Ontario

  • Anyone who begins to feel unwell (fever, new cough or difficulty breathing) should return home and self-isolate immediately.
  • People who are self-isolating should seek clinical assessment over the phone – either by calling their primary care provider’s office or Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000.
    • If you need additional assessment, your primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario will direct you to in-person care options.

If you need immediate medical attention you should call 911 and mention your travel history and symptoms.

 

4. USE THE ONLINE SELF ASSESSMENT QUIZ IF YOU FEEL SICK:

If you feel symptoms use this quiz to help you learn what steps you need to take:

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/#q0

 

5. LEARN THE GUIDELINES FOR WHO SHOULD GET TESTED FOR COVID-19:

Source: City of Toronto

IMPORTANT:

NOT EVERYONE WHO FEELS UNWELL WILL QUALIFY FOR A TEST. PLEASE READ GUIDELINES BELOW.

DPNCHC WILL NOT BE TESTING FOR COVID-19.

YOU MUST VISIT AN ASSESSMENT CENTRE FOR A TEST.

OHIP coverage is not required to be seen at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre. The assessment is provided at no cost to the individual.

 

WHO SHOULD NOT VISIT AN ASSESSMENT (TESTING) CENTRE

  • People with mild symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, and joint aches, and may also include nausea, diarrhea and stomach pains) OR fever, who are not at high-risk of transmission to larger groups (see below)
  • People with no symptoms who have travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days
    • Instead, self-isolate at home for 14 days
    • Healthcare workers should follow their organization specific policy related to return to work after travel
  • People with no symptoms who have not travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days

 

WHO SHOULD VISIT AN ASSESSMENT (TESTING) CENTRE

  1. People with mild symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, and joint aches, and may also include nausea, diarrhea and stomach pains) OR fever, AND
  2. Are at high risk of transmission to larger groups of people including:
  • Those who work within at-risk settings including any healthcare setting (e.g., acute care, complex continuing care and rehabilitation hospitals; primary care; paramedics; long-term care homes; retirement homes; reactivation centres; dialysis centres), congregate settings (e.g. homeless shelters, group homes, respite centres, correctional facilities); school or childcare centre
  • Those who reside in vulnerable settings including acute care, complex continuing care and rehabilitation hospitals; long-term care homes; retirement homes; reactivation centres; congregate settings (e.g. homeless shelters, group homes, respite centres, correctional facilities) and those who are patients at dialysis centres

Symptomatic patients should self-isolate while waiting to reach Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000) or seeking medical attention.

 

WHO SHOULD GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

People who have symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, and joint aches, and may also include nausea, diarrhea and stomach pains) AND any of the following more severe symptoms:

  • shortness of breath when walking, exercising, or at rest, which is unusual
  • chest pain or discomfort
  • weakness that impairs ability to carry out activities of daily living, such as showering, preparing meals, and dressing
  • lethargy or drowsiness
  • dizziness

If you are not well enough to take personal transportation, call 911.

The following infants and children should also be assessed in the emergency department:

  • Infants under 3 months of age with fever or trouble breathing or appear unwell
  • Children and infants over 3 months of age with any of the following:
    • Fever longer than 7 days
    • fast breathing or trouble breathing
    • bluish skin colour
    • not drinking enough fluids
    • not waking up or not interacting
    • being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
    • fever with a rash
    • constant vomiting

PEOPLE WHO ARE UNSURE IF THEY SHOULD VISIT AN ASSESSMENT (TESTING) CENTRE SHOULD:

  • call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 and speak with a registered nurse who will guide whether you will require further care or potential testing in person, or
  • call their primary care provider

 

TESTING CENTRE LOCATIONS:

https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-health-advice/covid-19-assessment-centres/

 

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COVID-19 INFORMATION IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

 

Information sheet in PORTUGUESE:

https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-portuguese-2020-02-18.pdf

 

Information sheet in SPANISH:

https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-spanish-2020-02-18.pdf

 

Information sheet in ITALIAN:

https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-italian-2020-02-18.pdf

 

Information sheet in ARABIC:

https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-arabic-2020-02-18.pdf

 

Information sheet in VIETNAMESE:

https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-vietnamese-2020-03-17.pdf

 

Information sheet in TAMIL:

https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-tamil-2020-02-18.pdf

 

Information sheet in SIMPLIFIED CHINESE:

https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-simplified-chinese-2020-02-18.pdf

 

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COMMUNITY SERVICES CURRENTLY OPEN

 

Four Villages Community Health Centre (all sites)

Source: Official Statement

  • All group programming is cancelled
  • Primary Care is available for existing clients but you must CALL AHEAD to make an appointment

 

Unison Health & Community Services (all sites)

Source: Official Statement

  • All group programs are CANCELLED (effective March 16 to April 3, 2020).
  • Tax Clinic has been CANCELLED until further notice
  • Pathways to Education office is CLOSED until further notice.
  • EdgeOV (youth clinic) is CLOSED until further notice.
  • Legal Clinic is limiting its service to phone advice only. Please call 416–653–5400 ext. 1244.
  • Hours have been adjusted at each site: New Hours

 

The Stop Community Food Centre

Source: Official Statement

  • All group programs have been suspended (including Healthy Beginnings, Community Kitchen, Wychwood Open Door, Income Tax Clinic, Urban Agriculture Programs, Farmer’s Market);
  • Limited food access programs at 1884 Davenport Road are available:
    • Food bank is open Monday and Friday, 12pm – 3pm
    • Takeaway breakfast is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am – 10am
    • Takeaway lunch is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12pm – 1pm
  • Advocates are available by telephone only to provide referrals, information and support Monday – Friday, 10am – 2pm by calling (416) 652-7867 x243

 

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SERVICES CURRENTLY CLOSED

The Province of Ontario declared a State of Emergency on March 12th 2020 (see statement here).

As of March 12th, the following services have been ordered to close until March 31st 2020:

  • All facilities providing indoor recreational programs;
  • All public libraries;
  • All private schools as defined in the Education Act;
  • All licensed child care centres;
  • All bars and restaurants, except to the extent that such facilities provide takeout food and delivery;
  • All theatres including those offering live performances of music, dance, and other art forms, as well as cinemas that show movies; and
  • Concert venues.

 

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DATA & UPDATES ON COVID-19

 

Public Health Agency of Canada

WHAT: Daily updates on COVID-19 spread across Canada

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

 

Government of Ontario

WHAT: Daily updates on COVID-19 spread across Ontario, including testing rates

https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus

 

World Health Organization

WHAT: Facts and myths about COVID-19, up to date medical facts

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

 

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