COVID-19 - Get vaccinated and find public health advice for residents and businesses.
This information is for workplaces and businesses, except health care settings. See specific information for schools, child care and camps and farmers and international agriculture workers (previously referred to as temporary foreign workers).
PCR testing in Niagara is only available to eligible individuals. Public Health does not recommend that employers request a negative PCR test for employees to return to work after isolation. Public Health is unable to clear employees for work. Use the self-isolation guidance to find out how long an employee should self-isolate or self-monitor.
Owners / operators offering personal services are encouraged to read this information and see good practices specific to personal service settings.
Refer to the most up-to-date provincial guidance for public health and workplace safety measures in effect.
The following information and resources are good practices for workplaces.
Employers are recommended to create a workplace safety plan to protect their workers and others from COVID-19. The purpose of the safety plan is to discuss items such as screening and masking as outlined in the provincial guidance.
Encouraging vaccination
Employers are strongly recommended to support employees in getting vaccinated and staying up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. Examples of employer support include:
Resources for encouraging vaccination:
Workplace COVID-19 vaccination policy
Niagara Region Public Health strongly supports those employers who are opting to continue mandatory vaccination policies for staff. Public Health recommends that organizations strengthen their workplace vaccination policies by adding a booster dose requirement at four to seven months after the second dose. Use the information under what being vaccinated against COVID-19 means as a definition for your policy.
Learn how to create a COVID-19 vaccination policy if your workplace or organization doesn't currently have one in place.
Consult with legal and labour relations when designing or updating your workplace COVID-19 vaccination policy.
Proof of vaccination for customers/ patrons
Businesses and organizations may choose to continue requiring proof of vaccination upon entry. The vaccine certificate with QR code and Verify Ontario app will continue to be made available for those who wish to use them.
Find more information on vaccine certificates for businesses and organizations.
Monitor the Ministry's guidance on signage questions for businesses and organizations frequently for up-to-date information about signage, screening information and questions.
See what posters and resources are available to support your workplace, including the Ministry screening tool for workplaces choosing to continue with active screening.
Find additional COVID-19 screening guidance for employers.
Find out if your organization is eligible to access free test kits from the provincial government.
Visit Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce for workplace self-screening kit availability.
If supply allows, use rapid tests twice a week as more daily screening to identify infections.
Learn more about testing options, accessing test results and who is eligible for testing.
There are still some settings and situations where masking is required. See face coverings to learn more.
While most masking mandates are being lifted, workplaces can choose to continue masking policies for employees and / or customers as part of their ongoing operations. As the COVID-19 virus remains in high circulation in Niagara and continues to pose a risk in our community, Public Health strongly recommends the continued use of masking policies. Employers should consider having employees wear masks that are at least medical grade or higher at all times, especially if employees must work within two metres distance of others.
See using masks in the workplace to learn about how to select, care for and use masks to protect workers from COVID-19.
According to Public Health Ontario's brief on Omicron Variant and Community Masking, it's recommended that mask fit and filtration are optimized. This can be achieved by wearing a well-fitted medical mask or a non-fit tested respirator (N95s, KN95s). A high quality three-layer non-medical mask, such as cloth masks, can be a reasonable alternative if it promotes adherence.
Review the Niagara personal protective equipment provider directory or the provincial supplier directory.
Employees
If personal protective equipment is provided by the employer, employees must be trained on safe use, care and limitations, including putting on and taking off equipment and proper disposal.
Workplaces should keep their heating, ventilation and air conditioning system running at all times and ensure it has been recently maintained by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system professional. Where a ventilation system is not present, keeping windows and doors open can increase ventilation, though this isn't as controlled as an heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
Filtration of the air can further reduce the risk from aerosolized virus. Using a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value 13 or higher filter in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, where the system can tolerate that level of filtration, is strongly encouraged. Only make adjustments to your system in consultation with a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system professional.
Where a central ventilation / filtration system is not present, running a portable air purifier / cleaner with a HEPA filter is a recommended substitute. Such portable devices are best placed in the centre of a room. Larger rooms with more people might need multiple devices. When selecting a portable air purifier / cleaner, consider the rating of the device with respect to the size of the space in which it will be used to determine the appropriate model and / or number of devices for the space.
Employers and employees can find more good practices on the behaviours to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and indoor ventilation: guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a synthesis by Public Health Ontario (updated July 2021), COVID-19 can survive on a variety of objects and surfaces, potentially leading to transmission; however, epidemiology evidence supporting fomite (surface) transmission is limited.
Follow Public Health Ontario's recommendations for environmental cleaning and disinfecting of all high touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, light switches, toilet handles, counters, hand rails, touch screens surfaces and shared materials, equipment, workstations and keypads.
All disinfectants (with the exception of household bleach) must have a Drug Identification Number or National Product Number to be approved for use in Canada.
Provide lined organics and garbage bins throughout the workplace for employees and customers.
Review your sick leave policies or establish new non-punitive sick leave policies. Make sure employees with COVID-19 symptoms stay home and self-isolate. Use the self-isolation guidance to find out when household contacts need to self-isolate.
Learn more about the Employment Standards Act: Infectious disease emergency leave.
Post clear, visible signage at all entrances and in the workplace reminding employees and customers about:
Make alcohol-based hand rub available in the screening area and throughout the establishment, such as at each entrance, checkouts, tables, washrooms, etc.
Employees should wash or sanitize hands between every interaction with customers or after frequent contact with high touch surfaces. When their hands are visibly soiled / contaminated, employees should wash their hands with soap and water instead of using alcohol-based hand rub.
Follow these instructions for employees that are required to be on-site at the workplace. Keep a list of staff who attend the workplace each day, and try to keep a list of people who work closely to each other, or attend meetings together.
A household contact is someone who lives with an individual who has COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19. Use the self-isolation guidance to find out when household contacts need to self-isolate.
A workplace contact is anyone who was less than two metres away, even for short periods of time, in the 48 hours before symptoms began or a positive test result of another individual- whichever came first. Use this definition for when an employee has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms and you need to identify who was exposed as a contact. Use the self-isolation guidance to find out who must self-isolate and who can self-monitor for symptoms.
What to do when one or more people have COVID-19 symptoms or test positive
If someone is sick at work and / or if someone tests positive on a rapid antigen or laboratory PCR test, even if they have no symptoms, send them home to start self-isolation immediately. The following enhanced measures at the workplace are recommended:
Renew emphasis on safety measures outlined in the "Managing COVID-19 in the workplace" section and consider the good practices listed in the "More resources" section.
To stop the spread of infection in the workplace, Public Health advises businesses to consider closing the workplace (either the entire workplace OR a specific segment) for 10 days and shifting workers to working remotely when:
A total of five persons in the workplace have COVID-19 symptoms and/or test positive on a laboratory PCR or rapid antigen test in any combination, AND
The individuals who notified you attended the workplace 48 hours before they developed symptoms, OR had no symptoms, but attended the workplace within 48 hours of their positive test result, AND
Always follow the guidance for managing COVID-19 in the workplace.
Eligibility criteria for testing in Ontario has changed. Most individuals do not need to get tested. Public Health doesn't recommend that employers require testing or doctor's notes for return to work. Some individuals will continue to test positive for COVID-19 for many months, after they're no longer contagious.
Use the self-isolation guidance for information on when your employees can return to work after:
If you have employees returning from international travel, you will need refer to federal quarantine or self-isolation travel requirements to find out when your employee can return to work.
Personal information collected for COVID-19 contact tracing can only be used for this purpose, unless an individual provides their consent.
Ensure you maintain privacy and confidentiality of employees' and patrons' personal health information at all times. Avoid the use of personal identifiers if asked to notify others that a person who was in the workplace, floor, or area was infected or exposed to COVID-19.
Follow your organizational policies and work with your occupational health and safety department (if you have one) to determine how your organization will handle a worker who has COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive along with the information in the "additional information for employers " section.
The Omicron variant is highly transmissible. It's really important that you continue to practise behaviours to prevent the spread of COVID-19 like getting vaccinated and staying home if you're sick.
Tell your employer if you: