COVID-19 Disease and Infection

Learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

• Take the COVID-19 self-assessment to receive recommendations on what to do if you have symptoms of illness or have tested positive for COVID-19. You can also complete the assessment on behalf of someone else, including a child.
• Use the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes [PDF] to find out if it's safe to visit or go to work in a long-term care or retirement home

Rapid antigen testing

HPPH no longer distributes Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) for the public. Testing is only available to those who are eligible for treatment. For information on COVID-19 testing eligibility and options please see COVID-19 testing and treatment. 

If you have symptoms but are not eligible for testing, assume you have COVID-19 and follow COVID-19 health advice.

Testing and treatment

If you have a higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, you are eligible for PCR testing. If you need a COVID-19 test, assessment or treatment, you can:  

• Contact your pharmacy or locate the nearest pharmacy that provides COVID-19 testing
• Contact your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) 
• Call 811 or visit Health811 online for more information about testing, assessment, and treatment

If you think you have COVID-19 and are seeking treatment, don't delay. You will need to start treatment within five days of the start of symptoms. 

Anyone with severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, or any other medical emergency should call 9-1-1.

For general information and eligibility for antiviral treatment, please visit COVID-19 testing and treatment. 

Post COVID-19 condition is when the symptoms of COVID-19 persist for more than 12 weeks after the infection. It's also known as long COVID and can affect both adults and children.

You can show symptoms of post COVID-19 condition even if you: 

• weren't formally tested and diagnosed with COVID-19
• only had mild to moderate symptoms when you had COVID-19

Post COVID-19 condition is not COVID-19. Symptoms can persist for weeks or months from the initial COVID-19 infection, but you can also develop new symptoms. 

The best way to prevent post COVID-19 condition is to take measures to avoid getting infected in the first place, such as wearing a well-fitted mask and getting vaccinated.

For more information:

• Post COVID-19 condition (long COVID) | Health Canada
• Post COVID-19 condition (Long COVID) | World Health Organization

COVID-19 continues to circulate and remains a potentially serious illness. The following groups are at higher risk of severe outcomes (long COVID, hospitalization or death) from COVID-19.

• People of advanced age
• People living in congregate settings
• People with underlying health conditions
• People who are unvaccinated