The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have set case definition criteria for outbreaks:
COVID-19 Outbreak in Other Congregate Living Settings
Suspect COVID-19 Outbreak:
- Two or more patient/resident cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI)with symptom onset within 48 hours and an epidemiological link (e.g., same unit/floor/service area) suggestive of transmission within the setting AND testing is not available or all negative.
Confirmed COVID-19 Outbreak:
Two or more patient/resident cases of test-confirmed acute respiratory infections (ARI)2 with symptom onset within 48 hours and an epidemiological link (e.g. same unit/floor/service area) suggestive of transmission within the setting.
OR
Three or more patient/resident cases of ARI with symptom onset within 48 hours and an epidemiological link suggestive of transmission within the setting AND testing is not available or all negative.
Client Case Definition:
- Two or more new symptoms for the individual.
Clinical Compatible Signs & Symptoms:
- Fever/abnormal temperature
- Dry cough
- Productive cough
- Headache
- Nasal congestion
- Congestion/sneezing
- Sore Throat/hoarseness
- Muscle aches
- Malaise/fatigue
For more information, refer to Ministry of Health and Long-term OPHS Infectious Disease Protocol – Appendix 1: Case Definitions and Disease-Specific Information: Respiratory Infection Outbreaks in Institutions and Public Hospitals, September 2024 and Appendix 1: Case Definitions and Disease-Specific Information Disease: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) October 2024
How to report a COVID-19 related deaths?
Any death where COVID-19 is a contributing factor as the cause of death, should be reported in COVID-19 cases where there is no clear alternative cause of death (e.g., trauma, drug toxicity, other natural death process, at a time that the person was COVID-19 test positive but did not have a clinically compatible illness), and the death occurred under one of the following circumstances:
- The case was still symptomatic or infected at the time of death.
- The case was experiencing residual effects or complications of infection that persisted.
- The case is a child that was experiencing multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) which can occur after resolution of initial COVID-19 signs and symptom.
Using information from the Medical Certificate of Death, please complete the COVID-Related Death Reporting Form.
Information and Resources for COVID-19
Guidance Documents for Health Care Providers
- Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment for Health Care Workers and Health Care Entities
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Sector-based Guidance Documents for Healthcare
Guidance Documents for Congregate Living Settings
- Ministry of Health:
- Recommendations for Outbreak Prevention and Control in Institutions and Congregate Living Settings, October 2024 or as current
- Government of Ontario:
- Public Health Ontario:
- Ontario Health West:
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care:
- Government of Canada:
- Public Health Ontario:
- COVID-19 Vaccines (includes AEFI Reporting and Surveillance Reports)
- National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI):
COVID-19 Screening and Assessment
- Government of Ontario:
Covid-19 Testing
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Testing Guidance
- COVID-19 Sample Collection
- Submitting a Sample (COVID-19 Requisition)
- COVID-19 Test Requisition (How to Complete)
Routine Auditing
- Public Health Ontario:
Additional Resources
- Ministry of Health:
- Public Health Ontario:
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: