COVID-19 Testing, Treatment and Infection Prevention and Control
See COVID-19 information for health care professionals to learn about COVID-19 vaccination and other topics.
You can also review our medical advisories and memos for the latest health alerts (COVID and non-COVID related).
COVID-19 testing
Publicly funded PCR testing for eligible individuals remains available at select locations in Niagara. If you are referring patients to one of these locations, advise them to wear a well-fitted mask in all indoor spaces and outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained.
If the patient has to use public transit or taxi services, encourage mask use for the duration of the trip, keep the passenger window down (if weather permits) and perform hand hygiene before and after travel.
For COVID-19 PCR testing forms and instructions, see Public Health Ontario's test information index.
- Ordering rapid antigen tests (RATs)
Health care providers are invited to order and distribute RATs to patients on a voluntary basis, while provincial supplies last and before their expiry. The distribution of RATs to patients is voluntary and will not be reimbursed by the Government of Ontario (no billing codes).
- The ordering pathway for health care providers already enrolled in the Provincial Antigen Screening Program (PASP) who intend to distribute RATs to employees and / or patients will continue through the PPE Supply Portal
- Health care providers who are not currently enrolled in PASP and who would like to distribute RATs to their employees and / or patients may enrol via the Ontario Together Portal and order through the PPE Supply Portal
COVID-19 treatment
See Ontario Health's recommendations, clinical guidance and resources on the use of COVID-19 treatments.
Health care providers are encouraged to discuss treatment options with high-risk patients before they get sick and create a plan to ensure patients get the appropriate therapeutic within the treatment window.
Patients looking for information on COVID-19 treatment can be directed to the Ministry of Heath's COVID-19 testing and treatment.
Infection prevention and control (IPAC)
Routine practices are required for all clinical interactions, independent of any concern for the possibility of COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, and therefore remain important regardless of the respiratory virus transmission risk.
- Additional precautions are required regardless of the respiratory virus epidemiology or risk period.
- Public Health Ontario has also developed a checklist for IPAC key principles for clinical office practice during the COVID-19 pandemic
More information
- COVID-19 guidance for the health sector - Ministry of Health
- COVID-19 - Ministry of Health. Find information and resources for individuals, employees, business owners and employers.
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Public Health Ontario. Find surveillance and data reports, information on variants of concern and other resources.
- COVID-19 health system response materials - Ontario Health. Find information shared with the Ontario health care system and generated by the COVID-19 health system response effort.
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