Last revised on February 10, 2020
Questions and answers about COVID-19 can be found on the Government of Canada's COVID-19 webpage. Questions about:
Learn more about Long-Term Care Homes (LTCH) and Retirement Homes (RH)
Questions from the Ottawa community
COVID-19 Response
How many confirmed cases of COVID-19 are there in Ottawa? |
A confirmed case is a person who has a laboratory confirmed positive COVID-19 test result. Ottawa Public Health provides up-to-date information on the number of confirmed cases in the COVID-19 Dashboard. The Dashboard is updated daily at 12:30 p.m. |
What is Ottawa Public Health doing in response to this situation? |
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. When a positive test result is received by OPH, case management staff will:
OPH will also complete contact tracing which includes:
In addition, OPH’s Infection and Prevention Control Team (IPAC) follows up with institutions, childcare settings, congregate setting or schools to ensure appropriate public health measures are in place. |
What are Canadian public health officials doing in response to this situation? |
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. |
How are other congregate care setting being supported? |
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:
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. |
Is there a vaccine being developed for COVID-19? |
Yes. Canada has approved a COVID-19 Vaccine and Ontario has a rollout out plan for vaccinating the province. Learn more about vaccines: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/COVID19Vaccine. |
Diagnosis and Testing
How is the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosed? |
It is diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on travel history, symptoms, and laboratory tests. If you would like to be tested, please visit our COVID-19 testing information page. If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, use the Ontario Government self-assessment tool to help determine how to seek further care. In order to decrease transmission of COVID-19 in Ottawa, it is IMPERATIVE that all residents of Ottawa be COVIDWise. |
If I was tested, how long does it take to get results? |
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 here. 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:
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. |
How can I care for myself or my family members with COVID-19? |
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 2 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:
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. |
Should I get re-tested once I have recovered from COVID-19? |
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:
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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:
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. |
Why am I still testing positive for COVID-19 after my self-isolation period has ended? Am I still contagious? |
No. Continuing to test positive after recovery from COVID-19 infection is common, with some studies showing that half of people who have had COVID-19 will still test positive 2 to 4 weeks after their first test. This is because the test is detecting viral remnants that are no longer living and unable to cause infection. Therefore, you can no longer transmit the infection. After recovery, some people have continued to receive positive tests for 2 months, and some people have received a negative test, followed by another positive test. For these reasons, Ottawa Public Health and the Province of Ontario do not recommend the routine use of a negative test to show recovery from COVID-19nor is it recommended to do repeat testing in the 3 months following initial COVID-19 infection in people without symptoms (e.g. as part of surveillance testing). When all the following criteria are met you will be “cleared” of the COVID-19 infection:
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Is there a possibility that a person who gets the virus once can get it again? |
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 3 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:
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. |
Taking Care of Yourself
Am I at risk for contracting COVID-19 if I receive a package or products by mail? |
While COVID-19 can survive on some surfaces for varying lengths of time, transmission through contact with contaminated surfaces (for example where individuals touch a contaminated surface and then touch their own nose, eyes or mouth without first washing their hands) is not thought to be a major contributor to the spread of COVID-19, particularly in comparison to spread through inhalation of respiratory droplets from an infected person. People delivering and receiving packages should perform proper hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer) regularly and always before touching their own faces (particularly mouth, nose or eyes, or face mask). Consistently performing proper hand hygiene after handling any items means that no waiting period is required for handling donated food items, mail or packages. |
How do I handle waste products at home? |
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 1 litre of water (or 4 tsp of bleach with 4 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. |
Where can Ottawa residents find mental health supports during the pandemic? |
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/7 day 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. |
What precautions should I take when handling my groceries to limit the possible transmission of germs/viruses? |
COVID-19 is a type of coronavirus. Although there are still things we are learning about COVID-19, we do know that other coronaviruses do not survive very long on surfaces like cereal boxes or canned foods. Coronaviruses are usually spread through respiratory droplets (for example when someone coughs or sneezes). There is currently no evidence that people have become infected with COVID-19 through items bought at a grocery store. Still, it might be possible that the item you handled or bought was recently touched by someone who had COVID-19 on their unwashed hands. The best way to protect yourself is by washing your hands often with soap and water, including after handling your groceries. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running tap water is recommended as per normal when preparing foods. Always wash your hands with soap and water before washing fruits and veggies and between handling different kinds of foods. Visit Ottawa Public Health’s Keeping foods safe (clean, cook, chill, separate) for more information. |
Alcohol and COVID-19: Know the Facts |
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-19Myth: 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 on alcohol and local resources visit the OPH web site. |
Pool/Hot Tub Sharing |
If you are planning to allow people outside of your household to use your pool and/or hot tub when it is not in use by you and your household members, keep the following in mind:
Resource: COVID-19 and Water |
How can I reduce the risks of COVID-19 transmission in indoor spaces? |
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. |
How do heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems affect the transmission of COVID-19? |
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:
Note that air conditioners and fans also require regular maintenance, such as:
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:
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General
Am I at risk for contracting COVID-19 by walking past someone? |
Make an effort to step-aside, or pass others quickly and courteously on sidewalks. Passing someone on the sidewalk is not considered close contact or a significant risk for exposure to COVID-19. |
What can members of the public (including schools and workplaces) do to protect themselves? |
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.
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Are there precautions I should take when picking up a returning international traveller from the airport? |
Yes. Ottawa Public Health recommends that a returning international traveller 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. |
When would wearing gloves be recommended? |
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:
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. |
What do I need to know about going to a movie theatre or play? |
If you are planning on going to a movie or play* when theatres are open, here are some things you need to know:
* 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. |
Gatherings and Celebrations
What can I do about religious celebrations and invitations? |
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 2 metres or 6 feet away from people not in our own household.
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. |
What precautions should I take with an indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony and reception? |
To keep everyone safer, OPH recommends to:
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:
People can only remove masks for outdoor pictures. Any individuals that are not part of the same household need to maintain physical distancing (2 metres/ 6 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:
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. |
Workplace and Businesses
As an employer, what do I need to do to prevent the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)? |
Visit our webpage about COVID-19 information for workplaces which provides many recommendations. |
Which businesses are allowed to open? |
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 |
Information about Long-Term Care Homes (LTCH) and Retirement Homes (RH)
Supporting LTCHs and RHs during COVID-19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BackgroundAll 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 (4) are City-run, not-for-profit facilities. Managing Infectious Disease Outbreaks in LTCHsDuring 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 |
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Ottawa Public Health’s Role | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As per Ministry of Health guidance, if one person in a LTCH or RH tests positive for the COVID-19 virus it results in the declaration of an institutional outbreak. Once an outbreak is declared in an institution, members of OPH’s IPAC team serve as a direct liaison to that institution, and provide support by:
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. |
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Province of Ontario’s Role | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 here. 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. |
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Contact Information for Families with Loved Ones in LTCH | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concerned families and friends should communicate directly with the LTCH about their loved ones at the facility. Concerns with the operation of a LTCH should be directed to the Ministry of Long-Term Care through their complaint process. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Asked Questions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COVID-19 Update
Contact Information
Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 telephone line
- Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm
- Weekends, from 9:00 am to 4:00 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?
- Learn more about COVID-19 rules.
- Telephone: 3-1-1
How to access help during COVID-19
- 211 Ontario can help you find financial and social support during COVID-19
- Telephone: 2-1-1
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