COVID-19 Testing Information

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Ontario Strengthens Enforcement of Stay-at-Home Order

New Provincial restrictions in effect as of April 17, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.

An illustration of two people wearing masks. On their left is written who can currently get the COVID-19? Vaccine? A button containing the word learn more.

Last revised - May 6, 2021

When should I go for testing?

You can get a COVID-19 test at an assessment centre, care clinic, or community testing site if any of the following apply to you:

1. Symptoms:

Learn about the symptoms of COVID-19

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please continue to self-isolate, follow the self-isolation instructions and do not leave your place of isolation unless it is to go for testing or to seek medical care.

Type Symptoms
Classic symptoms Feeling feverish, new or worsening cough and/or difficulty breathing.
Other symptoms

Sore throat, difficulty swallowing, new olfactory (smell) or taste disorder(s), nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pneumonia, runny nose* or nasal congestion.*

*In the absence of underlying reason for these symptoms such as seasonal allergies and post-nasal drip.
Less common symptoms Unexplained fatigue/malaise (feeling ill) /myalgias (muscle aches), delirium (acutely altered mental status and inattention), unexplained or increased number of falls, acute functional decline, exacerbation of chronic conditions, chills, headaches, conjunctivitis (red, inflamed eyes), croup (barking cough) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (some of the symptoms associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children include persistent fever, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as rash); an infected infant could also have trouble feeding.

OR

2. Exposure:

  • You have been exposed to a person who tested positive for COVID-19:
    • If you know when you were exposed, get tested at least 7 days after your last exposure and stay in self-isolation; if you were tested before Day 7 following exposure, a repeat test is recommended on or after Day 10 following exposure. 
    • If you have had ongoing exposure to an individual who tested positive (e.g., a household member), get tested right away. If you were tested before Day 7 of your self-isolation, a repeat test is recommended on or after Day 10 following exposure.
  • You received a COVID Alert app exposure notification; or
  • You are a resident or a worker in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified by Ottawa Public Health.

OR

3. Long-term care, retirement homes, and other congregate settings:

  • You are a resident, a worker or a visitor to long-term care, retirement homes, homeless shelters or other congregate settings (for example: group homes, community supported living, disability-specific communities or congregate settings, short-term rehab, hospices and other shelters).

OR

4. First Nations, Inuit or Métis:

  • You are a person who identifies as First Nations, Inuit or Métis; or
  • You are a person travelling to work in a remote First Nations, Inuit or Métis community.

OR

5. Other reasons:

  • You received a preliminary positive result through rapid testing;
  • You require testing 72 hours before a scheduled (non-urgent or emergent) surgery (as recommended by your health care provider);
  • You are a patient and/or their 1 accompanying escort tra­velling out of country for medical treatment;
  • You are an international student that has passed their 14-day quarantine period;
  • You are a farm worker;
  • You are an educator who cannot access pharmacy-testing; or
  • You are in a targeted testing group as outlined in guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Learn more about COVID-19 testing for the purpose of pre-travel clearance.

New: As of March 23, 2021, the Heron and Ray Friel COVID-19 Care and Testing Centres will pause COVID-19 testing for the purpose of international travel. This is a temporary measure to shift resources and meet the current demand for symptomatic testing within the city of Ottawa. For more information, and to find a list of other private clinics, visit the Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Taskforce dashboard.

Following new testing guidance from the Ministry of Health, Ottawa’s assessment centres will no longer provide free testing for the purpose of pre-travel clearance. This guidance applies to all assessment centres in the province and came into effect Friday December 11, 2020.

COVID-19 tests for the purpose of international travel clearance are not recommended by Ontario’s public health experts. Travellers should consult their travel carrier’s guidelines to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about requirements. Travellers should also refer to the federal government’s travel website for up-to-date expectations and requirements related to their destination. If a COVID-19 test is required, it is important to ensure ample time for testing and to receive results.

COVID-19 testing services are available by private laboratory providers for a fee and travellers in need of a test are encouraged to search for convenient local options.

Getting to a testing site:

  • Do not use public transportation
  • Use a private vehicle
  • If a private vehicle is unavailable, take a taxi/shared ride service (e.g., Uber, Lyft, etc.) while wearing a procedure/surgical mask and sitting in the rear passenger seat with the window open (weather permitting). If possible, the client should also note the taxi company name and operator number in case there is a need for contact.

Where to get tested in Ottawa:

Please only book one appointment at a single site and cancel your appointment if you plan on no longer attending.

COVID-19 CHEO assessment centre and kids come first care clinic at Brewer Park Arena

  • Ages:
    • For testing at the COVID-19 CHEO assessment centre, ages two months to 18 years
    • For care at the COVID-19 CHEO kids come first care clinic, ages six months to 18 years (infants less than six months of age must visit the CHEO Emergency Department)
  • Hours:
    • Monday to Friday, 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
    • Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

View other locations

COVID-19 care and testing centres- Heron, Moodie and Ray Friel locations

  • Ages: Anyone over six months old
  • Hours:
  • Heron:
    • Monday to Friday: 8 am to 3:30 pm
  • Moodie: 
    • Monday to Friday: 8 am to 3:30 pm
    • Saturday, 8:00 am - 11:30 am (testing only, full care clinic not available on weekends)
  • Ray Friel:
    • Monday to Friday: 8 am to 3:30 pm 
    • Saturday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (testing only, full care clinic not available on weekends)
  • Services provided: By appointment only and very limited walk-up testing, swab only or physician visit with or without swab
  • Download factsheet: Important information about the COVID-19 care and testing centres
  • Locations:

View other locations

COVID-19 assessment centre for adults at Brewer Park Arena

  • Ages: Anyone 18+ years old
  • Hours:
    • Monday to Friday, 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
    • Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

View other locations

COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Howard Darwin Centennial Arena

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Howard Darwin Centennial Arena is now closed. Residents are encouraged to access other sites across the city and alternative testing locations can be found on the Ottawa Public Health’s website.

View other locations

COVID-19 drive-thru assessment centre at City Hall/National Arts Centre

  • The COVID-19 drive-thru assessment centre at City Hall/National Arts Centre is now closed. We will continue to serve the community at the drive-thru Assessment Centre on Coventry Road as of Wednesday April 7.

View other locations

COVID-19 Drive-Thru Assessment Centre on Coventry Road

  • To cancel your appointment, please email: DTTI@toh.ca

View other locations

COVID-19 testing at three of the Ottawa Community Health Centres

  • Centretown Community Health Centre: 
    • Location: 420 Cooper Street, Ottawa (entrance off Somerset Street West, next to 395 Somerset and across the street from the Wine Rack)  
    • Hours: 9 am to 4 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
    • Click here to book an appointment or call 343-553-2661
      • Please note telephone booking is reserved for those who do not have internet access. It is not an information line.
  • Sandy Hill Community Health Centre: 
  • Somerset West Community Health Centre:
    • Location:  55 Eccles Street, Ottawa 
    • Hours: 
      • 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Wednesday
      • 1 pm to 4 pm on Thursday
      • 9 am to 2:30 pm on Friday
  • Click here to book an appointment or call 613-327-8145

View other locations

COVID-19 pop-up testing site at the AMA Community Centre

  • Ages: Anyone over two months old
  • Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
  • Service provided: Walk-up testing for local Sawmill Creek residents and scheduled appointments 
  • Location: AMA Community Centre, 1216 Hunt Club Road, Ottawa
  • Download factsheet: Important information about COVID-19 testing at the AMA Community Centre
  • Book an appointment: 
    • Same-day walk-ins from the Sawmill Creek community are welcomed and will be provided with a ‘just-in-time’ COVID-19 test
    • Although it is not necessary to schedule an appointment beforehand, there is an option to reserve a time slot by calling 613-737-8193
    • To cancel your appointment, please call 613-737-8193

View other locations

COVID-19 pop-up testing site at Vanier Community Service Centre

  • Ages: Six months and older
  • Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, open 11:30 am to 6 pm

View other locations

Southwest Ottawa COVID-19 Assessment Centre (Located in Richmond)

  • Ages: Anyone over six months old
  • Hours: 
    • Sunday, Monday and Thursday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
  • Services provided: COVID-19 test by appointment only and very limited walk-up testing
  • Location: Richmond Memorial Community Centre, 6095 Perth Street, Richmond
  • Download factsheet: Important Information about the Southwest Ottawa COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Richmond
  • Book an appointment: 
    • The Southwest Ottawa COVID-19 Assessment Centre/Richmond booking website is shared with North Grenville public health unit. You will be redirected to the Richmond location after answering the pre-screening questions. Book an appointment or call 613-258-3192.
    • Please note telephone booking is reserved for those who do not have internet access. It is not an information line
    • To cancel your appointment, please email: ngcac@kdh.on.ca
  • Residents who are tested in Richmond can check their COVID-19 test result on the Ontario Health results portal at covid-19.ontario.ca

View other locations

North Grenville COVID-19 Assessment Centre (Located in Kemptville)

  • Ages: Anyone over six months old
  • Hours: 
    • Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
    • Sunday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Services provided: COVID-19 testing and a full physician assessment for those who are unable to see their family physician. By appointment only and very limited walk-up testing
  • Location: 15 Campus Drive, Kemptville
  • Download factsheet: Important Information about the North Grenville COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Kemptville
  • Book an appointment: 
  • Residents who are tested in Kemptville can check their COVID-19 test result on the Ontario Health results portal at covid-19.ontario.ca

View other locations

COVID-19 testing at Ontario pharmacies

If you are not showing symptoms, you can currently make an appointment at a select pharmacy. This is an interim measure. Please visit the province's website to ensure you have current information about testing options and locations available to you.

The Ontario government announced that free COVID-19 testing will be available at select pharmacies throughout the province. Learn more about pharmacy testing.

Testing for specific populations

Inuit

Note: For Inuit wishing to access COVID-19 assessment and testing, please contact Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team for an appointment. Services offered in Inuktitut and English.

Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team (AIFHT)  
24 Selkirk Street, Suite 300
Telephone: 613-740-0999 
Open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday

Ottawa’s daily testing update

What to do after getting tested for COVID-19

Access COVID-19 test results

 

 

Contact Information

Provincial Vaccine Information Line

  • 7 days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm
  • Call if you have questions about Ontario's COVID-19 vaccination program.
  • Service is available in multiple languages.
  • Telephone: 1-888-999-6488
  • TTY: 1-866-797-0007

Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 Telephone Line

  • Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 6 pm
  • Weekends, from 9 am to 4 pm
  • Translation is available in multiple languages
  • Telephone: 613-580-6744 follow the prompts to the COVID-19 telephone line
  • TTY: 613-580-9656

Emergency Services

  • If you are in distress (e.g., significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), do not go to the Assessment Centre or a COVID-19 Care clinic. Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1.

See someone not respecting COVID-19 rules?

How to access help during COVID-19

  • 211 Ontario can help you find financial and social support during COVID-19
  • Telephone: 2-1-1

Related Information

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