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

  • Practice 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 practice 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

Wearing a face covering may be an added way to protect others around you, even if you don't have symptoms, particularly where physical distancing may be a challenge (e.g. on public transit, while shopping). Non-medical masks and face coverings may not provide complete protection against viral particles, especially if they fit loosely.

If you or a household member has symptoms of, or is suspected to have COVID-19, follow the guidance for self-isolation.

The Public Health Agency of Canada provides guidance on how to make cloth face coverings. No specific design or material is known to be better than others. Make sure each cloth face covering is made of at least two layers and can be washed multiple times without losing the shape or deteriorating.

Face coverings are not recommended for:

  • Children under the age of two
  • Anyone who has trouble breathing
  • Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance

How to safely wear a face covering

  • Clean your hands before putting it on and taking it off. Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds.
  • Make sure it fits. No gaps between the face covering and your face. It should cover your mouth and nose from below the eyes to around the chin.
  • Secure it with ties or ear loops so that it is comfortable and doesn't hinder breathing and vision
  • Keep your hands away from your face while wearing a face covering. If you do touch your face, clean your hands immediately.
  • Do not share your mask with others
  • Wear it as long as it is comfortable, and remove it when it becomes soiled, damp, damage or difficult to breathe through
  • Wash your cloth face covering in the laundry
  • Continue to stay two metres away from others
  • Clean surfaces that a dirty face covering touches

How to remove and care for a face covering

  • Remove carefully by grasping the straps only and place directly in the laundry
  • If you have to use it again before washing, ensure that the front of the mask folds in on itself to avoid touching the front. Store it in its own bag or container. Discard the bag or clean and disinfect the container after use.
  • Immediately clean your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Machine wash with hot water and regular detergent

To learn more about face coverings and how to properly wear, fit, remove and clean your non-medical face covering refer to the Ministry of Health guidance and direction.

A medical mask is a critical piece of personal protective equipment that must be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders.

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

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
  • 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

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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