Frequently asked questions

Ottawa Public Health continues to actively monitor this situation in collaboration with our provincial and national health colleagues, and stakeholders that include local hospitals and community agencies.
Positive COVID-19 test results are reportable to local health authorities under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Ottawa Public Health, as part of the case management process, follows up with individuals who test positive for a reportable infectious disease, including COVID-19.

When a positive test result is received by OPH, case management staff will:

• Contact the person who has tested positive for COVID-19
• Assess the person’s health status
• Teach how to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
• Teach how to self-isolate and confirm the length of required self-isolation 
• Teach what steps to take if symptoms worsen and a person is not able to manage at home
• Collect a list of high-risk contacts including household contacts

OPH will also complete contact tracing which includes:

• Following up with high risk household contacts
• Following up with non-household high-risk contacts as deemed necessary
• Reviewing where and when to go for testing
• Teaching how to self-isolate
• Determining length of self-isolation

In addition, OPH’s Infection and Prevention Control Team (IPAC) follows up with institutions, child care settings, congregate setting or schools to ensure appropriate public health measures are in place.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is actively monitoring the situation. They are in close contact with the World Health Organization to assess any potential risk to Canadians.

The Government of Canada, provinces and territories have multiple systems in place to identify, prevent and control the spread of serious infectious diseases into and within Canada.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is supporting congregate care settings such as shelters, rooming homes, group homes, correctional institutions, and isolation and physical distancing centres by:

• Providing information and guidance to staff and residents on topics such as personal protective equipment access and use, screening, enhanced infection prevention and control measures.
• Working with community partners to relocate residents out of shelters and temporary housing into other accommodations to support physical distancing efforts.
• Providing staff with guidance and support to quickly identify and isolate individuals with symptoms of COVID-19.
• Increasing availability of screening and mobile testing (e.g., Ottawa Inner-City Health’s Mobile Assessment Van) help ensure equitable service for these communities.
• Putting collaborative responses in place to assist with the self-isolation of residents/families who have tested positive for the virus at designated isolation centres, when possible.
• Declaring and monitoring any outbreaks.
• Working with congregate care operators to review control measures and conduct site visits for the duration of any outbreaks.
• Working with community partners, including Ottawa Inner City Health, Community and Social Services Department, Somerset West Community Health Centre, and Centertown Community Health Centre, to identify and address the unmet needs of people living in rooming houses in Ottawa during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Collaborating with the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Children and Community Social Services and the Ministry of the Solicitor General to ensure that guidelines and regulations are consistently applied.

In addition, the Champlain COVID-19 Response Committee (CCRC) has created the Champlain Health Region Congregate Care & Living Operations Task Force, which includes representation from Ottawa Community Paramedics and OPH. These partners are actively supporting congregate settings with surveillance testing for COVID-19 to reduce transmission.

It usually takes approximately 24 hours to a few days to receive test results for COVID-19. You must self-isolate while awaiting test results and follow the instructions on the Tested for COVID-19, What Now Handout. Find out where to get tested. 

You can access your COVID-19 test results through the Ontario Government’s online portal. This portal offers fast and secure access to test results on your computer and mobile device.  

When do I need to self-isolate?

You must self-isolate* if you:

• Have returned from travel outside Canada:
  • Learn more on returning from international travel with symptoms 
  • Learn more on returning from international travel without symptoms
• Have tested positive for COVID-19
• Have been in contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19
• Are a household contact of a symptomatic person waiting for COVID-19 test results

For more information about self-isolation please visit the OPH Self-isolation Instructions for Novel Coronavirus webpage.

*Please note that the self-isolation requirement for residents of Ottawa may differ from those in other health units.

For all Ottawa residents who are not currently self-isolating, remember to be COVID Wise:

W – Wear a mask or face covering where required, or when you cannot maintain a physical distance of two metres (six feet).

I – Isolate yourself from others when you are sick (and get tested promptly if you have COVID-like symptoms).

S – Stay two metres (six feet) apart from those outside your household.

E – Exercise proper hand hygiene; wash your hands regularly or use sanitizer especially before.

If you or someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19 everyone in the household will need to self-isolate. Ottawa Public Health will be in contact with you to provide information on when to get tested and how long to self-isolate.

It is important for the person who tested positive for COVID-19 to separate themselves from other people in the home, as much as possible. This includes staying and sleeping in a different room and using a separate bathroom from other people. If this is not possible, shared rooms and bathrooms should be well ventilated and bathrooms cleaned between each use. When in shared spaces, household members should wear masks, stay at least two metres (six feet) apart and limit their time together. Avoid sharing household items including dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding etc.

Most people with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms and recover on their own. If you or members of your family are ill with COVID-19, remember to:

You or your family member will want to:

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Get rest and sleep as much as possible
• Use fever reducing medications according to the label and in consultation with your health-care provider or pharmacist
• Try a humidifier or hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough
• Have all family members practice good hand hygiene and maintain at least two metre distancing where possible
• Clean and disinfect surfaces in your home that are touched often, including but not limited to counters and doorknobs. Consider using a solution of 20 mL of bleach with one litre of water (or four tsp of bleach with four cups of water) to disinfect surfaces.
• When caring for someone with COVID-19, protect yourself by wearing a medical mask, eye protection (face shield or goggles) and disposable gloves; do not re-use medical masks or gloves and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with uncleaned or gloved hands.
• Contact your health care provider if your symptoms worsen or are not resolving
• Call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 or Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 if you have any questions

If you are in distress (significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptom), go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1.

For more information on how to care for someone with COVID-19 at home please visit the following Government of Canada website.

No. Ottawa Public Health and the Province of Ontario do not recommend re-testing after finishing isolation. Another test is not needed as those who have recovered from COVID-19 infection can test positive for a few weeks or months after recovery.

When all the following criteria are met you will be “cleared” of the COVID-19 infection:

1. You have completed 10 days of self- isolation and
2. You have no fever (without the use of fever reducing medication) and
3. Your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours. Provincial Guidance is available to provide individuals with further details about the required amount of self-isolation and recovery time based on COVID-19 test results.

After testing positive for COVID-19, do I need a negative test to resume activities, such as work and going out in public?

No. Ottawa Public Health and the Province of Ontario do not recommend re-testing after finishing isolation. Another test is not needed as those who have recovered from COVID-19 infection can test positive for a few weeks or months after recovery. Instead, it is recommended to use a non-test-based approach.

Your COVID-19 infection is considered “cleared” when all of the following criteria are met:

1. You have completed 10 days of self- isolation and
2. You have no fever (without the use of fever reducing medication) and
3. Your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours

Provincial Guidance is available to provide individuals with further details about the required amount of self-isolation and recovery time based on COVID-19 test results.

When all the following criteria are met you will be “cleared” of the COVID-19 infection:

1. You have completed 10 days of self-isolation and
2. You have no fever (without the use of fever reducing medication) and
3. Your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours

Yes. However, 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. The body’s immune response against COVID-19, including how long immunity lasts, is not yet fully understood. There is limited information about reinfections because the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 illness (the virus itself is called SARS-CoV-2) has only been known since January 2020 and reinfection would be unlikely in the first few months after the first infection. However, a small number of these cases have been reported in the world scientific literature. Some people may shed detectable COVID-19 coronavirus for weeks to months, even though they are not contagious to others. For this reason, a retest some months after initial infection may show a positive test result but it is unlikely to be because of a reinfection.

Reinfections with COVID-19 within three months of initial infection are unlikely but later reinfections may be possible. If a person who has recovered from COVID-19 has new symptoms of COVID-19, the person may need an evaluation for reinfection, especially if the person has had close contact with someone infected with COVID-19. The person should self-isolate and contact a healthcare provider to be evaluated for other causes of their symptoms and possibly be tested. All persons, whether having had a known COVID-19 infection or not, should continue to practice safety measures that will help reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 including:

• Wear a mask
• Don’t touch your face with unwashed hands
• Keep at least two metres (six feet) from others
• Stay home and get tested if sick

Ottawa Public Health encourages you to be Social Wise and COVID Wise to protect yourself and others.  We need to continue to consider that any individual we encounter may be at risk for infection.

During COVID-19, Ottawa’s Green Bin program is accepting plastic bags as a bagging option for organic waste. Used paper facial tissues should be placed in plastic bags and can go in the green bin as per regular waste disposal practices.

Residents should continue to practice proper hygiene when handling any waste by thoroughly cleaning their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Clean any surfaces that may have come in contact with waste products with a household disinfectant. You can use 20 mL of bleach with one litre of water (or four tsp of bleach with four cups of water) as an easy disinfectant.

City staff and contractors continue to use the precautions that are already in place to protect workers from the hazards of handling municipal waste. In addition, the City is taking steps to ensure a steady supply of personal protective equipment for front-line staff. Ottawa Public Health manages the disposal of hazardous waste and has protocols in place to ensure its safe handling. 

Information on Mental Health and COVID-19 is available on the OPH website. Please know that support is available and OPH encourages residents to reach out to the Distress Centre of Ottawa to connect with someone at 613-238-3311.

If you are in crisis, please contact the Mental Health Crisis Line (24 hours a day/seven days a week) at 613-722-6914 or if outside Ottawa toll-free at 1-866-996-0991. 

If you (or your child) are experiencing thoughts of suicide or harming yourself, please call 9-1-1. 

Everyone experiences these events in their own way. It is completely normal to feel stress and concern during these times. It's ok to not be ok.

According to a new Nanos poll commissioned by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), Canadians under 54 are drinking more while at home due to COVID-19. The main reasons for the increase among those who report drinking more are a lack of regular schedule (51%), boredom (49%) and stress (44%).

General myths about alcohol and COVID-19

Myth: Drinking alcohol kills the virus that causes COVID-19.

Fact: Drinking alcohol will not disinfect your mouth and throat and will not protect you from COVID 19 or prevent you from being infected by it.

Myth: Alcohol (beer, wine, distilled spirits or herbal alcohol) makes the immune system stronger and makes you more resistant to COVID-19.

Fact: Alcohol can in fact weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Myth: Drinking alcohol helps you to cope with stress.

Fact: Alcohol is known to increase the symptoms of panic and anxiety disorders, depression and other mental disorders, and the risk of family and domestic violence.

Remember drinking alcohol will not protect you from COVID-19. For more information visit the PAHO/WHO website. 

If you choose to drink, drink responsibly and follow Canada's Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines to reduce short and long-term risks. 

For more information, visit the OPH website on alcohol and local resources.

• Pools/hot tubs that are properly operated, maintained and disinfected should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19
• Risk of transmission of COVID-19 still exists if you are in close proximity with members outside of your household. Learn more on the Province of Ontario's Framework for Reopening our Province: Stage 2  
  
• Commonly touched surfaces and items such as chairs, outdoor tables, play equipment, inflatable water toys and pool/hot tub cleaning equipment may become contaminated when used by others

 For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. 

COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through direct contact to the respiratory droplets of an infected person. While ventilation of indoor environments with fresh air is important, the basis of reducing the risk of transmission while indoors continues to be following COVIDWise principles:

W – Wear a mask or face covering where required, or when you cannot maintain a physical distance of two metres (six feet).

I – Isolate yourself when you have any symptoms and get tested.  Learn about testing: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVIDcentre

S – Stay two metres (six feet) apart from those outside your household.

E – Exercise proper hand hygiene; wash your hands regularly or use sanitizer especially before touching your face.

Poor ventilation in indoor spaces is linked with increased transmission of respiratory infections, particularly if the space is small. Transmission of COVID-19 has been associated with closed spaces, including by people who are pre-symptomatic. It is therefore important that, along with COVIDWise measures, proper ventilation – preferably with fresh air (e.g., by opening windows and doors) – is practiced, whenever possible.

There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted to people in other rooms using the same HVAC system. In fact, a well-maintained HVAC system may help reduce transmission of COVID-19 by bringing fresh outdoor air to indoor spaces while at the same time, removing the inside air that people have exhaled.

Within a single room, however, air conditioners and fans may increase the distance in which a virus can be transmitted. To help prevent the flow of air from infected areas into other areas and reduce the concentration of virus particles in these areas:

• Minimize the use of air conditioners and fans (e.g., by using the lowest setting)
• Direct airflow away from surfaces and people
• Increase natural ventilation by opening a window if weather permits

Note that air conditioners and fans also require regular maintenance, such as:

• Surface cleaning, including the blades
• Removal of any moisture or water that has collected in portable air conditioners
• Filter changes
• Other maintenance activities found in manufacturers’ instructions

That being said, COVIDWise behavior remains the best way to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus indoors.

For further reference on HVAC systems, the following web-based resources are available:

• National Collaborating Centre on Environmental Health’s (NCCEH) resource on COVID-19 Precautions for Multi-unit Residential Buildings 
• Public Health Ontario’s response to a scientific/technical request on COVID-19: Fans and Air Conditioning Units
• Worksafe British-Columbia’s advice on COVID-19 frequently asked questions: General ventilation and air circulation
• European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) guidance on Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in the context of COVID-19
• United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage on COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Building (see section on Engineering Controls) 

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the COVID-19 virus. To decrease the spread of COVID-19 Ottawa Public Health encourages everyone to be Social Wise and COVID Wise and follow these recommendations: 

W - Wear a mask or face covering where required or when you cannot maintain a physical distance of two metres (six feet).  

I - Isolate yourself from others when you are sick (and get tested promptly if you have COVID-like symptoms). 

S -Stay two metres (six feet) apart from those outside your household.  

E - Exercise proper hand hygiene; wash your hands regularly or use sanitizer especially before touching your face.  

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Stay home when you are sick. 
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

Yes. Ottawa Public Health recommends that a returning international traveler should preferably use a private vehicle. Travellers must wear a suitable non-medical mask while in transit, unless they are alone in the vehicle. Public transportation is not to be used. If a personal or private vehicle is not available, they may take a taxi or ride-share, but need to wear a surgical/procedure mask and sit in the rear passenger side seat with the windows 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. They must go directly to their place of quarantine/self-isolation, without making any unnecessary stops.

Please refer to the Government of Canada website for more information.

Disposable gloves (one use only) are recommended to protect yourself when caring for someone with COVID-19 especially when touching someone who has COVID-19, touching surfaces within their environment, handling their soiled items and while cleaning and disinfecting.

When you are wearing gloves remember:

• To wash your hands properly for at least 15 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before you put on gloves and after removing them
• Do not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth with gloved hands
• Do not touch your mask with your gloves (if you are wearing some)
• Do not touch your personal items (e.g. cell phone, bag) with your gloves so you don’t contaminate them
• To throw the gloves out in a closed lined garbage bin immediately after taking them off

Wearing gloves for everyday activities in public is not recommended and can make you feel more protected from the COVID-19 virus than you are. Wearing gloves can increase the risk of getting COVID-19 if you touch objects and surfaces and then touch your eyes, nose and mouth with gloved hands.

If you are planning on going to a movie or play* when theatres are open, here are some things you need to know:

• You need to wear a mask at all times in the cinema or theatre space (e.g.in their seats, hallways, washrooms, concession stands) except when eating or drinking  
• Individuals from the same household can sit next to each other in a theatre
• Physical distancing remains imperative. A minimum of two metres (six feet) should be maintained between seats that hold individuals from different households
• Singing and shouting should be avoided by audience members

* This is specific to entertainment where there is no singing.

To stay up to date on current information, please refer to the province of Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open.

Ottawa Public Health continues to advise that limiting activities to members of your own household remains important to limit the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. We must all practice physical distancing and keep two metres or six feet away from people not in our own household.
During times of the year when celebrations are happening:

• Limit gatherings with others in person to celebrate
• Use technology to connect with others
• Spend more time with your own family who live with you
• Create new traditions at home, cook your favourite food together, decorate together, play games together for example

To stay up to date on current information, please refer to the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Framework: Keeping Ontario Safe and Open.

To keep everyone safer, OPH recommends to:

1. Follow Provincial guidelines on the number of people allowed to attend wedding ceremonies &/or receptions (indoors and outdoors)
2. Follow OPH COVID-19 Guidance for Special Events
3. Ensure there is enough space to allow for physical distancing
4. Be COVID-Wise and Be Social-Wise

Along with being COVID-Wise and being Social-Wise, here are some extra precautions to take during your wedding ceremony and reception:

If necessary, people can remove masks when:

• Making a speech
• Saying vows
• Performing a first dance (if on a stage that is not accessed by the public)
• Walking down the aisle while physical distancing is maintained

People can only remove masks for outdoor pictures. Any individuals that are not part of the same household need to maintain physical distancing (two metres/six feet).

OPH recommends against singing and loud speeches in indoor settings. If you choose to sing or have loud speeches, you need to make sure you are meeting provincial regulations. In this situation, OPH also recommends taking an added precaution. The extra measure is to increase the distance between officiant or speaker and audience to five metres. You also need to follow the provincial minimum distances and other requirements such as shielding between officiants, singers or any performers. Other measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission during officiation/speeches include:

• Masking
• Using a microphone to avoid projecting the voice not sharing microphones
• Limiting contamination of objects (e.g. microphone, podium)
• Frequent environmental cleaning
• Improving ventilation

If the wedding couple wish to ‘perform’ a first dance, they should do so at least two metres from attendants. Group dancing at a reception is not permitted.

Background

All Long-Term Care Homes (LTCH) in Ontario are part of the provincial health care system and are licensed, regulated and inspected by the Ministry of Long-Term Care. The majority of LTCHs in Ottawa are operated privately, some are non-profit and a small portion (four) are City-run, not-for-profit facilities.

Managing infectious disease outbreaks in LTCHs

During any infectious disease outbreak in a LTCH, it is important to institute measures to prevent and control the spread of the infection in the facility, while balancing the daily life of the residents in the LTCH. Usually, when an outbreak is declared in a particular unit or floor, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) measures are implemented in that area to prevent the spread to other areas of the building

• Investigating people who test positive for COVID-19 virus and their contacts
• Conducting initial and ongoing on-site visit, as required
• Providing recommendations for testing of residents and staff according to the current Ministry of Health guidelines (all residents and staff on floors with a COVID-19 outbreak are to be tested, whether or not they have symptoms)
• Provides COVID-19 test swabs and linking facilities to sources of provincial Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies, if needed
• Conducting on-going surveillance for the duration of the outbreak
• Supporting the LTCH/RH throughout the outbreak to ensure all infection prevention and control requirements have been implemented to control the outbreak

Outbreak management activities also include providing guidance on institutional policies, supporting the implementation of physical distancing/isolation measures and ensuring protocols are in place for enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, particularly of high touch surfaces within the institution.

LTCHs are part of the provincial health care system and the Ministry of Long-Term Care is responsible to regulating, licensing and inspecting all LTCHs. The Long-Term Care Home Quality Inspection Program (LQIP) safeguards residents’ well-being by investigating complaints and critical incidents and by ensuring that all LTCHs are inspected at least once per year. Inspection reports for homes are available.

During COVID-19, the Ministry of Health provides directives to LTCHs with respect to managing cases and outbreaks and is the lead for providing PPE.