Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

To prevent the spread of infectious diseases and keep healthy, follow these simple steps.

Stay home if you're sick

  • Don't go to school or work if you're sick
  • If you think you have mild symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, call 905-688-8248, press 7, then press 2

Clean your hands often

Cover your cough or sneeze

  • With a tissue or into your sleeve
  • Throw used tissues into a covered, plastic lined garbage can and clean your hands

Keep your distance

  • Practise physical distancing and keep a distance of two metres from others

Avoid sharing personal items

  • Especially those that come into contact with saliva, such as toothbrushes and eating utensils

Clean and disinfect

  • Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly
  • Use a disinfectant and follow manufacturer’s instructions

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing means avoiding close contact with others to prevent the spread of COVID-19. To practise physical distancing:

Avoid non-essential trips in the community
Limit, postpone or cancel gatherings
Work from home, where possible
Conduct meetings virtually
Keep kids away from group settings
Avoid visits to long-term care homes and other care settings
Stay two metres away from others when going for walks or shopping for groceries

Enforcement

During normal business hours, concerns around enforcement of COVID-19 emergency orders should be directed to your municipality's bylaw office. After 4:30 p.m., call Niagara Region's dispatch line at 905-984-3690 or 1-877-552-5579 for further bylaw response and assistance. Do not call 911.

Wearing a Face Covering

On July 23, 2020, as part of their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, Niagara Regional Council approved a by-law making it mandatory to wear a face covering or non-medical mask in enclosed public places as of 12:01 a.m. on July 31, 2020.

Learn more about face coverings.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfecting Recommendations

Households

  • Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces at least twice daily, and more often if visibly soiled
  • High touch surfaces can include toilet handles, sink tap handles, doorknobs, light switches, electronics (cell phones, tablets, iPads, head sets, gaming devices, remotes) and bedside tables should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice daily, and more often if visibly soiled
  • Place contaminated items that can't be cleaned in a lined container; secure the contents and dispose of them with other household waste
  • Put the lid of the toilet down before flushing
  • Use a product that states it’s a disinfectant and follow manufacturer’s instructions

Public settings

Child care facilities / schools / universities / colleges / retirement facilities / transit / workplaces

Based on Public Health Ontario’s recommendations for cleaning and disinfection for public settings:

  • High touch surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice daily and when potential contamination has occurred or the surfaces are visibly soiled
  • High touch surfaces can include doorknobs, elevator buttons, light switches, toilet handles, counters, hand rails, touch screen surfaces and keypads
  • Environmental disinfectants should be classed as a hospital grade disinfectant and registered in Canada with a drug identification number and labelled as effective for both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. A drug identification number confirms the product is approved for use in Canada.
  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions for use of the disinfectant including contact time, expiration date, use of personal protective equipment and pre-cleaning requirements
  • Commonly used disinfectants are effective against COVID-19 but it's extremely important that the user pays attention to contact times to understand how long the product must stay wet on the surface in order to meet the kill claims

Check out this resource from the Public Health Agency of Canada with a list of disinfectants with evidence for use against COVID-19 for hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers.

Health care settings

Hospitals / health care professional offices / long-term care facilities

  • Clean and disinfect all equipment and surfaces in contact with the patient or potentially contaminated with bodily fluids (such as from coughing / sneezing) between each patient
  • High touch surfaces / equipment should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice daily and when potential contamination has occurred or the surfaces are visibly soiled
  • Environmental disinfectants should be classed as a hospital grade disinfectant and registered in Canada with a drug identification number and labelled as effective for both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. A drug identification number confirms the product is approved for use in Canada.
  • Follow manufacturer’s instructions for use of the disinfectant including contact time, expiration date, use of personal protective equipment and pre-cleaning requirements
  • Commonly used disinfectants are effective against COVID-19 but it's extremely important that the user pays attention to contact times to understand how long the product must stay wet on the surface in order to meet the kill claims
  • Equipment covered by a barrier is to be removed and discarded between patients; if equipment is contaminated, clean and disinfect prior to replacing a new barrier on the equipment
  • Items that cannot be easily cleaned and disinfected should be removed, such as magazines and plush toys

Check out this resource from the Public Health Agency of Canada with a list of disinfectants with evidence for use against COVID-19 for hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers.

Select Products

  • Cleaners
    • Break down grease and remove organic material from the surface
    • Used separately before using disinfectants
    • Can be purchased with cleaner and disinfectant combined in a single product
  • Disinfectants
    • Have chemicals that kill most germs
    • Applied after the surfaces have been cleaned
    • Have a drug identification number
  • Disinfectant wipes
    • Have combined cleaners and disinfectants in one solution
    • May become dry due to fast drying properties. Should be discarded if they become dry.
    • Not recommended for heavily soiled surfaces

For more information on environmental cleaning and disinfection, visit Public Health Ontario.

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