COVID-19 Prevention

Microscopic look at virus with arrow pointing to human lungs.

If you have questions related to COVID-19 testing and isolation guidelines, please call the Provincial Testing and Isolation Information line at 1-888-777-0730

About COVID-19

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

How COVID-19 spreads

COVID-19 spreads from an infected person to others through respiratory droplets and aerosols created when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, shouts, or talks.

The COVID-19 virus is most commonly spread from an infected person through:

Respiratory secretions (e.g., runny nose, saliva) and droplets generated when you cough or sneeze
Close, prolonged personal contact, such as living in the same household or working directly with someone who is infected with the virus.

The virus may also spread through touching an object with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.

Higher risk individuals

People of any age or health status can develop COVID-19. However, some people are at higher risk of becoming severely ill if they are infected with COVID-19:

Older adults (the risk increases with each decade, especially over 60 years).
People of any age with chronic medical conditions (e.g., lung disease, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, dementia, stroke)
People of any age who are immunocompromised, including those with an underlying medical condition like cancer, or individuals taking medications that suppress the immune system, like chemotherapy.
Individuals with obesity and a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe. If you feel sick, it's important that you stay home and talk with a primary care provider or doctor if necessary.

The most common symptoms include:

Fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher)
Cough that's new or worsening
Shortness of breath (feeling out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)

Other symptoms can include:

Sore throat
Runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
Stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
Lost sense of taste or smell
Headache that’s unusual or long lasting
Digestive issues (nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)
Chills
Muscle aches that are unusual or long lasting
Extreme tiredness that is unusual

If you develop severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911 and inform then that you may have COVID-19.

Wear a mask

Masking continues to be recommended in settings where there are individuals who are at high risk for severe outcomes. In settings where masking is not required, wearing a mask is a personal choice. You are encouraged to wear a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask if you feel it is the right choice for you.

Stay home when you are sick

Stay home to prevent transmission to others, except to seek testing or medical care if required.

You should stay home until all of the following apply to you:

your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea)
you do not have a fever
you do not develop any additional symptoms

Wash your hands frequently

Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or clean with alcohol-based hand sanitizer (containing at least 60-90% alcohol).

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette

When coughing or sneezing:

cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand, or
use disposable tissues and be sure to dispose of them in a lined waste basket and wash your hands immediately afterwards.

Ensure proper ventilation in indoor areas

Maximize ventilation by ensuring that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are in good working order. Drawing as much fresh air as possible from outside will decrease the concentration of aerosols that may be suspended in the air and could contain the COVID-19 virus.

When possible, keep windows open (e.g., in a house or vehicle).

Resources

COVID-19 Vaccines for Ontario (français) - Government of Ontario
Public Health Ontario - Public Health resources are available in 20 different languages
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) - Reference for public health measures
World Health Organization (WHO)
COVID-19 improving indoor ventilation (français) - Government of Canada