COVID-19 information for Long-term Care and Retirement Homes settings

The long-term care home (LTCH) and retirement home sectors are critical stakeholders in the response to COVID-19. Residents of these institutions are particularly vulnerable to severe illness and death from COVID-19. Efforts to keep COVID-19 out of these institutions and early detection of COVID-19 cases in institutions are vital to COVID-19 control. 

1. Chief Medical Officer of Health Directives
2. Ontario Ministry of Health & Public Health Ontario – Guidance and Resources 
3. Memorandums
4. Testing
5. Personal Protective Equipment
6. COVID-19 Signage

1. Chief Medical Officer of Health Directives

• Directive #1 for Health Care Providers and Health Care Entities
• Directive #3 for Long Term Care Homes Under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007
• Directive #5 for Hospitals within the meaning of the Public Hospitals Act and Long-Term Care Homes within the meaning of the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007

2. Ontario Ministry of Health and Public Health Ontario Guidance Documents and Resources

• COVID-19 Outbreak Guidance for Long-Term Care Homes (LTCH)
• COVID-19 Guidance: Long Term Care Homes
• Screening Checklist

3. Memorandums

• Memorandum to Long Term Care Homes Sector (March 9, 2020): COVID-19 Updates (PDF)

• Ministry of Health Memorandum to Long-Term Care Homes, Retirement Homes, Supportive Housing, Hospices and other congregate care settings: COVID-19 - Visitors (March 13, 2020) (PDF - 165 KB)

4. Testing

• Covid-19 Provincial Testing Guidance Update
• Covid-19 Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance
• Need to be tested? - Learn more about testing.

5. Personal Protective Equipment

• Putting on Full Personal Protective Equipment - Public Health Ontario Video 

• Guidance for mask use in long-term care homes and retirement home

6. COVID-19 Signage

• OPH Outbreak signage - We are experiencing an outbreak [PDF 138 kb]
• Signage for LTCH - Attention Patients! English (PDF)
• Signage for LTCH - Attention Visitors! English (PDF)
• Signage for LTCH - Stop! English (PDF)
• Signage for RH - the following signages are included:
• We are experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 (page 1)
• We are currently free from COVID-19 (page 2)
• We are currently free from COVID-19 (pages 4-5)
• Welcoming visitors to your home during COVID-19 (page 3)

OPH has sent several ERMS to long-term care homes and retirement homes. More information can be found on the  Recent Public Health Alerts Issued By Ottawa Public Health ERMS please see this link.

To report an outbreak for any disease during regular business hours, or for more information, call 613-580-2424 ext. 26325, or in the evening, on weekends or holidays, call 3-1-1 and ask to speak with the Public Health Inspector on-call. 

OPH’s role in supporting LTCHs and RHs during COVID-19