Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Information en français

Vous trouverez ici des mises à jour et des ressources françaises sur la COVID-19.

Testing

To get tested for COVID-19, call a testing centre directly to book an appointment.You can also take a self-assessment to help you decide if you need a test. For more information: COVID-19 testing.

Long-Term Care Home visitors: call a testing centre directly to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test. You should also contact the long-term care home to ask about their specific policies for booking a visit.

Test Results

Check your results on the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Test Result website. Test results can take four to ten days to be returned.

Call Centre

Our COVID-19 call centre is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-800-563-2808 option 5.

Cases in Our District

Counts are updated Monday to Friday at 3 p.m.

Updated: July 9, 2020

Tests¹	Cases²	Resolved³	Deaths⁴	Hospitalized⁵
15,914	37	34	1	0

¹Of which the Health Unit is aware. These include tests with pending results.
²Cases are those that have a received a positive COVID-19 test and have a permanent address within the Health Unit’s district. More information about these cases and their current status are listed on our COVID-19 Cases page.

³Resolved: A person who is no longer considered infectious as per the Ministry of Health clearance criteria.
⁴Deceased: Refers to a lab-confirmed case that dies during the COVID-19 investigation. It does not account for unreported deaths that occur after the investigation is closed.
⁵Hospital: A person with a positive COVID-19 test who is currently admitted and isolated in hospital.

Total LTCH/RH Outbreaks¹	4
Current LTCH/RH Outbreaks²	2

¹Includes current outbreaks as well as outbreaks that have been declared over.

²An outbreak in a Long-Term Care Home is declared with a single, laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 in a resident or staff member. When only asymptomatic residents and/or staff with positive results are found as part of enhanced surveillance testing of residents and/or staff, it may not be necessary to declare an outbreak. An outbreak may be declared over when there are no new cases in residents or staff after 14 days from Ministry of Health defined events.

Status of Cases in Ontario

The Ministry of Health updates their website every weekday at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST with the most up-to-date information on the status of cases in Ontario.

Protect Yourself

Protect your health and help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community by using these simple, easy and routine practices:

Practice physical distancing – stay 2 metres from those who are outside of your social circle (up to 10 people)
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Sneeze and cough into your sleeve
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Wear a face covering when physical distancing is not possible or may be hard
Clean high touch surfaces frequently
Avoid contact with people who have symptoms of COVID-19
Stay home if you have symptoms of COVID-19. If you have symptoms, immediately isolate yourself and arrange to be tested.

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): What you need to know to help you and your family stay healthy

Can people who recover from COVID-19 get it again?

It is not yet known if a person can get COVID-19 more than once. To protect yourself and others, the Health Unit recommends that people who recover from COVID-19 continue to practice physical distancing and prevention practices (e.g., handwashing).

Symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19, which is the disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus, range from mild — like the flu and other common respiratory infections — to severe. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to someone with COVID-19.

Call 911 if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

severe difficulty breathing (struggling for each breath, can only speak in single words)
severe chest pain (constant tightness or crushing sensation)
feeling confused or unsure of where you are
losing consciousness

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher)
chills
cough that's new or worsening (continuous, more than usual)
barking cough, making a whistling noise when breathing (croup)
shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)
sore throat
difficulty swallowing
runny, stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
lost sense of taste or smell
pink eye (conjunctivitis)
headache that’s unusual or long lasting
digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)
muscle aches
extreme tiredness that is unusual (fatigue, lack of energy)
falling down often
for young children and infants: sluggishness or lack of appetite

Complications from COVID-19 can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or kidney failure and, in some cases, death.

How COVID-19 Spreads

Human coronaviruses cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs.

They are most commonly spread from an infected person through:

Respiratory droplets generated when you cough or sneeze
Close, prolonged personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
Touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands

How long does the virus survive on surfaces?

It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).

If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.

Can the virus survive on my groceries?

At this time, food has not been identified as a mode of transmission for COVID-19.

You should always handle and prepare food safely. This includes:

wash your hands before and after you handle groceries and packaging
wash fruits and vegetables before preparation and consumption

For more information on proper food handling practices visit our food safety page.

Higher Risk Individuals

Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, strongly recommends that individuals over the age of 70, individuals who have compromised immune systems and/or underlying medical conditions self-isolate.

Public Health Ontario. How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19. Older Adults and People with Chronic Medical Conditions or Weakened Immune Systems

Government of Ontario: Statement from the Chief Medical Officer of Health (March 30, 2020)

Government of Ontario: How to Self-Isolate

Social Circles

June 12, 2020

Ontarians are now encouraged to establish social circles of up to 10 people

News Release
The province has developed a practical step-by-step guide to help Ontarians as they safely develop and join a social circle.

Note, a 'social circle' and 'social gatherings' are not the same. Social circle: Can be up to 10 people. You do not have to maintain physical distancing with individuals in this selected group. Continue to physical distance (2m/6ft) with anyone outside of your circle. Social gatherings: Can be up to 10 people. You must maintain physical distancing (2m/6ft) with anyone who is not part of your social circle.

Domestic Violence

During the COVID-19 pandemic and under the guidance to physically distance and isolate, women and children are at greater risk of violence in the home.