COVID-19 Testing and Care Information

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⚠ Take this screener if you have symptoms of COVID-19 to determine if you are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 and may benefit from treatments.

Last revised: October 8, 2024

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Rapid antigen tests  

The Ontario Ministry of Health has announced, effective  October 1 , publicly funded COVID-19 testing in the community will only be available to those who are eligible for COVID-19 treatment. This applies both to rapid antigen tests (RATs) and PCR (molecular) tests. Eligible individuals can access free tests through their primary care provider or pharmacies.

Those eligible for publicly funded COVID-19 testing include symptomatic individuals who are:

  • people aged 65 years of age and older
  • people aged 18 years of age and older with a high-risk medical condition
  • people who are immunocompromised

As part of these changes to provincial changes to COVID-19 testing, public health units like Ottawa Public Health are no longer distributing RAT kits.

For more information on who is eligible for publicly-funded testing, where to access testing, and what treatments are available please visit the provincial COVID‑19 testing and treatment web page.

Can I get a PCR test?

COVID-19 PCR (molecular) testing is currently only available to eligible individuals. these include at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, people living and working in the highest risk settings (like hospitals, health care settings, and congregate living) and priority groups (like First Nations, Inuit, Métis). Read the information below to see if you are eligible for a PCR test.

Who is eligible for a PCR COVID-19 test

If you are in distress (e.g., significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), go to the nearest emergency department or call 9-1-1.

If you are at higher risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19, you are eligible for PCR or rapid molecular testing and should seek out testing as soon as possible if you develop symptoms.

For the most up-to-date information on PCR testing, including locations in Ottawa, please visit the province's website.

If you have symptoms but are not eligible for testing, assume you have COVID-19 and follow the steps for what to do if you’ve have symptoms of COVID-19.
Book a PCR COVID-19 test

PCR testing and access to antiviral therapy is available through many local pharmacies, visit the province's website for more information.

For assessment of COVID-19 symptoms or respiratory illness, please visit your primary care provider or go to a walk-in clinic.

Getting tested at a pharmacy

Participating pharmacies offer various testing options to eligible individuals, including:

  • in-store lab-based PCR testing, by appointment only
  • self-collection lab-based PCR kits, with no appointment necessary. Eligible individuals will be able to pick up a lab-based PCR self-collection kit at a participating pharmacy, conduct the specimen collection at-home, and then return the collected specimen to the pharmacy to be sent for processing in a lab

Participating pharmacies can choose which of these testing options are offered at their stores and not every participating pharmacy site will offer all services.

Find a participating pharmacy
Akausivik Inuit Family Heath Team 

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 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

 

Symptoms of COVID-19

If you have symptoms but are not eligible for PCR testing, assume you have COVID-19 and follow the steps for what to do if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19.

 


COVID-19 Symptoms

COVID-19 symptoms can vary from person to person and in different age groups.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:

  • sore throat
  • runny nose
  • sneezing
  • new or worsening cough
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • fever
  • chills
  • fatigue or weakness
  • muscle or body aches
  • new loss of smell or taste
  • headache
  • abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting
  • feeling very unwell

Information if you have symptoms

 

What to do after getting tested for COVID-19
  • Self-isolate and follow the instructions in this COVID-19 assessment tool. 
  • You will get a recommendation on what to do next.
How to access PCR COVID-19 test results

Can I get antiviral treatment?

Antiviral treatments for COVID-19, like Paxlovid, can help prevent serious illness if taken quickly after symptoms start (within the first 5 days). A health care provider, such as a physician, nurse practitioner or participating pharmacist, may prescribe antiviral treatment, if you are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms.

You may be at higher risk if you are any of the following:

  • 65 years of age or older
  • 18 years of age or older and are immunocompromised
  • 18 years of age or older and at increased risk due to one more more medical conditions or risk factors (such as diabetes, heart or lung disease). See the full list of risk factors.

Paxlovid is covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) (including OHIP+ and Trillium Drug Benefit) for eligible adults (18+) who:

  • have a prescription;
  • have COVID-19 symptoms;
  • have a positive COVID-19 test;
  • are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.

If you are not eligible for Ontario Drug Benefit coverage, the cost may be covered by your private insurance.
Contact your health care provider or visit your local pharmacy to learn more.

The use of antivirals in children under the age of 18 is not routinely recommended. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, such as for children who are severely immunocompromised and/or have multiple risk factors.

Resources:

Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 testing

Is there a possibility that a person who gets the virus once can get it again?

Most people who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection will have some immunity to protect against future infection or to make a future infection less severe. However, reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is possible. For this reason, NACI (the National Advisory Committee on Immunization) recommends that COVID-19 vaccines be offered to individuals who have previously been infected with COVID-19. 

Although the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada are effective, protection from COVID-19 takes time to develop. You should not assume that you will be protected right away. Also, no vaccine is 100% effective - there will be a small percentage of people who will remain unprotected despite being vaccinated and vaccines may not protect against all variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. 

Because of ongoing COVID-19 transmission in the community and because the vaccines will not protect everyone, it is therefore important that you continue to follow public health measures (e.g., physical distancing, avoiding close contact with non-household members, wearing a mask, staying home when sick, and practicing hand hygiene) to keep each other safe, whether you have been vaccinated or not.   
Should I get re-tested once I have recovered from COVID-19?

Ottawa Public Health and the Province of Ontario do not recommend re-testing after finishing isolation unless new symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19 develop after isolation has ended. Another test is not needed to discontinue isolation for those who have recovered from COVID-19.  

 Most individuals can discontinue self-isolation when:  

  • They have completed their required self- isolation period since symptoms first appeared or positive test date if asymptomatic AND

  • They have no fever (without the use of fever reducing medication) AND

  • Symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms)
Why am I still testing positive for COVID-19 after my self-isolation period has ended? Am I still contagious?

PCR Test after infection:

Continuing to test positive after recovery from COVID-19 infection is common, with some people still testing positive on a PCR test for weeks or months after their initial infection. This is because the PCR test is detecting viral remains that are no longer living and unable to cause infection. This means you are no longer contagious. Therefore, it is not recommended that individuals without symptoms undergo PCR testing for at least 90 days after the initial COVID-19 infection. If the person develops new symptoms of COVID-19 within that 90 day period, consultation with a health care provider is recommended to help with the decision on whether to do further testing. Note that individuals who develop new symptoms of COVID-19 should complete the provincial screening tool and follow the isolation and mask use instructions provided.

Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) after infection:

Rapid antigen tests (RAT) are generally less sensitive to the virus than PCR tests and work better in symptomatic people.  The sensitivity of the test can be increased by doing a combined oral (mouth) and nasal (nose) swab, and repeating the test 24-48 hours after the initial test. If a person tests positive using a rapid antigen test, they should follow isolation and mask use guidelines.

By 10 days after developing symptoms or testing positive (20 days if immune compromised), there are very few people who have any remaining viable virus – which means they are no longer contagious. 

After testing positive for COVID-19 on either a PCR test or RAT, individuals can begin participating in RAT screening programs (e.g., workplace programs that test for COVID-19 infection regularly in those without symptoms) 30 days after the initial COVID-19 infection. If the person develops new symptoms of COVID-19 during the 30 day period following a positive RAT, consultation with a health care provider is recommended to help with the decision on whether to do further testing. Note that individuals who develop new symptoms of COVID-19 should complete the provincial screening tool and follow the isolation and mask use instructions provided.

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