COVID-19

The symptoms listed on the provincial COVID-19 self-assessment tool include the most common symptoms of COVID-19. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever (a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher) and/or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)
• Decrease or loss of taste or smell
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Headache
• Extreme fatigue
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea

Other symptoms of COVID-19 include abdominal pain, headache, pink eye, or lack of appetite.

When assessing for any symptoms, the focus should be on evaluating if they are new, worsening, or different from an individual’s usual state. Symptoms should not be chronic or related to other known causes or conditions.

If you have any severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or chest pain, call 911.

Complications from COVID-19 can include serious conditions, like pneumonia, and in some cases, death. Your risk of severe disease may be higher if you have a weakened immune system. This may be the case for:

• People over 70 years of age
• People who are immunocompromised or those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart, renal or chronic lung disease

COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person and is dependent on multiple factors including:

• Forceful expulsion of respiratory droplets (e.g. singing, shouting, exercising, coughing, sneezing)
• Amount of virus present (e.g. more virus is present early in an individual’s infection)
• Type of contact (e.g. longer and closer contact with an infectious person is associated with higher risk)
• Environmental conditions (e.g. being outdoors and having good ventilation are associated with lower risk)
• Personal protective measures (e.g. physical distancing, wearing a well-fitted mask and being vaccinated reduce the risk)

Wearing a well fitted mask, physical distancing and being outdoors or in well-ventilated indoor spaces all reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The highest risk for transmission still remains close prolonged contact (generally less than two metres) with an infected individual.

Close contact

Contact tracing aims to interrupt the spread of disease between an infected person and their close contacts.

If you are a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or someone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you are advised to take additional precautions for 10 days after your last exposure:  

• Self-monitor for symptoms and self-isolate immediately if symptoms develop
• Wear a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask as much as possible in all public settings
• Avoid non-essential activities where you need to take off your mask, such as dining out
• Avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings such as hospitals, long-term care homes and retirement homes
• Do not visit anyone who is at higher risk of illness (for example, seniors or people who are immunocompromised)

Close contacts should refer to protecting yourself from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses

Who is eligible for a PCR test?

Publicly-funded molecular or PCR testing is available for select groups who are at higher risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19.

If you have symptoms but are not eligible for testing, assume you have COVID-19 and follow the steps outlined in protecting yourself from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses

Where to get a PCR test?

PCR testing is available for eligible individuals only by appointment at community based COVID-19 testing sites (including pharmacies).

Please do not attend a hospital emergency department for testing.

How To Get Your PCR Test Results

The Ontario government online test results portal offers secure access to PCR test results on your computer or mobile device. Test results will be available in 1 to 6 days after your test.

Please note: the test results portal does not work with Internet Explorer or iOS 11 and older. You might also need to disconnect from your corporate network or virtual private network (VPN).

Physicians, nurse practitioners, or participating pharmacists may prescribe oral antiviral medication to treat eligible adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at a higher risk of progressing to serious disease, including hospitalization or death. Antiviral treatments must be taken within the first five to seven days (depending on the treatment) of symptom onset.

A screener tool is available to help determine if you are at higher risk and should be assessed for treatment.

If you have symptoms and are at higher risk of severe COVID-19, seek testing and care immediately by either:

• Contacting a pharmacist who is prescribing Paxlovid
• Visiting a clinical assessment centre (where you can get tested, assessed, and provided treatment or a prescription)
• Contacting a primary care provider (for example, your family doctor)

Find out more about antiviral treatment options

Available Antiviral Medications

Paxlovid

Paxlovid is an antiviral medication that can be taken by mouth at home and must be taken within five days of the start of symptoms. All eligible individuals can get Paxlovid for free from participating pharmacies. Paxlovid prescriptions also remain available through any physician or nurse practitioner in Ontario as well as clinics assessment centres across the province.

Remdesivir

Remdesivir is a free antiviral medication that must be taken intravenously (IV) at a designated clinic. Remdesivir must be taken within seven days of the start of symptoms.