Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Health Professionals

Last Updated: April 13, 2022

In addition to the information below, please also refer to the general Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update and COVID-19 Information: Workplaces, Employers, Employees pages. 

COVID-19 Testing, Exposure and Isolation Information

This information may change frequently, please check back often for updates. 

Who needs to self-isolate

Highest Risk Settings

For information on highest risk settings, including hospitals, health care settings and congregate living settings, visit our COVID-19 Highest Risk Settings page. 

Testing Resources

For information on getting tested and locations of Huron Perth COVID-19 testing centres, visit: COVID-19 Testing, Tracing and Results.

For case and contact management resources, see the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Guidance for the Health Sector. 

Guidance Documents and Directives 

For the most updated guidance documents for all sectors, refer to the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Guidance for the Health Sector. Directives and Minister's Orders for all sectors can be found at COVID-19: Orders, Directives, Memorandums and Other Resources. 

Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Residences

Pregnancy, Labour, Delivery and Newborn Care

Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

Please note that the Ministry of Health's Directive #5 is the provincial baseline standard for provision of PPE for hospitals, long-term care homes and retirement homes during COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Please visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Info: Healthcare Professionals page. For information on providing other immunizations during COVID-19, visit our Immunization and Vaccines page.  

COVID-19 Therapies

Paxlovid, an oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19, is now available for free by prescription to individuals with COVID-19 who are at higher risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

Individuals may be at higher risk if they are:

  • over 18 years old and immunocompromised (have an immune system that is weakened by a health condition or medications)
  • over 70 years old
  • over 60 years old with fewer than three vaccine doses
  • over 18 years old with fewer than three vaccine doses and at least one risk condition (e.g., a chronic medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease, pregnant and unvaccinated)

Anyone who is eligible for an assessment is now also eligible for a PCR test at any testing centre in Ontario. 

Individuals can access Ontario’s antiviral screener tool to help determine if they are at higher risk and should be assessed for treatment. A positive rapid antigen test, PCR or rapid molecular test is required as part of the assessment for antiviral treatment. Rapid antigen tests remain available for pick up at no charge from over 3,000 retail locations across the province.

Clinical assessment centres continue to be available to assess and test patients as well as to prescribe and dispense antivirals. To find the nearest clinical assessment centre, visit: COVID-19 testing locations and clinical assessment centres. 

A list of pharmacies that are dispensing Paxlovid can also be found at Ontario.ca/antivirals.

Provider Guidance

Please see:

Please also see the following Science Table resources:

HPPH Communications

Huron Perth Public Health sends out regular updates to stakeholders, including primary care, hospitals, EMS partners, municipalities, and long-term care. To be added to our stakeholder contact list, please email communications@hpph.ca with your name and email address and identify your organization.