Before you contact Region of Waterloo Public Health review the important updates to symptoms, treatment, and testing.
If you have any symptoms use the self-assessment tool. For schools and child care centres, use the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool. The screening tool will help determine if you need to seek care, or testing, based on your symptoms. Follow the instructions in the tool.
If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911. Advise them of your symptoms and travel history, if applicable.
COVID-19 assessment and testing
Waterloo Region COVID-19 summary
On this page
- Background
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Testing
- Returning travellers
- How to self-isolate
- Gathering limits
- How to protect yourself
- Create a social circle during COVID-19
- Staying healthy during COVID-19
- Resources
- Translated resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
Background
Region of Waterloo Public Health continues to work closely with local hospitals, health care partners, the Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario and many community partners to respond to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Waterloo Region.
For more information visit the Ministry of Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Symptoms of COVID-19
Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild - like the flu and other common respiratory infections - to severe. The most common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
If you have any symptoms use the self-assessment tool. For schools and child care centres, use the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool. The screening tool will help determine if you need to seek care, or testing, based on your symptoms. Follow the instructions in the tool.
If you are experiencing symptoms, you must self-isolate at home while awaiting your test results or until you meet the criteria provided in the tool if you do not require testing. You will be advised to continue self-isolation depending on your test result, your exposure, travel history and/or as directed by Public Health.
Most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own at home.
Worsening symptoms
If you develop worsening symptoms (such as worsening cough or fever):
- Call your health care provider (if applicable)
- Call Telehealth 1-866-797-0000
- If Telehealth and your health care provider are both closed/unavailable, call ahead before going to the hospital emergency department
Severe symptoms
If you have severe symptoms (such as severe difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, confusion, or loss of consciousness):
- Call 911
- Go to the hospital emergency department and advise them of your symptoms and travel history, if applicable
You do not need a phone assessment by Region of Waterloo Public Health to access appropriate healthcare from your health care provider or an emergency department if you are experiencing severe symptoms. Always call ahead when seeking care.
Treatment
There are currently no specific treatments or vaccine that protects against COVID-19.
Most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own at home.
For treatment at home you should:
- drink plenty of fluids
- get rest and sleep as much as possible
- try a humidifier or a hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough
- self-isolate
If you have any symptoms use the self-assessment tool. For schools and child care centres, use the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool. The screening tool will help determine if you need to seek care, or testing, based on your symptoms. Follow the instructions in the tool.
If you are experiencing symptoms, you must self-isolate at home while awaiting your test results or until you meet the criteria provided in the tool if you do not require testing. You will be advised to continue self-isolation depending on your test result, your exposure, travel history and/or as directed by Public Health.
If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911. Advise them of your symptoms and travel history, if applicable.
Testing
Effective immediately, Ontarians should only seek testing at assessment centres if you are:
- Showing COVID-19 symptoms
- Have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by your public health unit or exposure notification through the COVID Alert app
- Including individuals requiring a test to return to school or day care
- A resident or work in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified and informed by your local public health unit
- Eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care
- Including individuals who require testing to meet ministry guidelines (e.g. prior to a visit in a Long-Term Care home)
- Required for international travel
If you have any symptoms use the self-assessment tool. For schools and child care centres, use the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool. The screening tool will help determine if you need to seek care, or testing, based on your symptoms.
You do not need a referral from a primary care provider or Public Health to access testing. All the assessment centres take self-referrals.
Visit the assessment and testing centre page for more information.
If you require urgent care, call 911 or visit the hospital emergency department and advise them of your symptoms and travel history, if applicable.
Returning travellers
The Government of Canada has put in place an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act that applies to all travellers arriving in Canada in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. All travellers returning from destinations outside of Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days.
Stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including others at home, for 14 days. Do not go to work, the grocery store or on walks. Exemptions may apply for certain groups, such as health care workers.
If you need groceries or other essential items, have a family member, friend or neighbour do this for you and leave items at the door, or use a delivery service.
If you have any symptoms use the self-assessment tool. For schools and child care centres, use the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool. The screening tool will help determine if you need to seek care, or testing, based on your symptoms. Follow the instructions in the tool. If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911. Advise them of your symptoms and travel history.
You may not leave your place of isolation unless it is to seek medical assistance. A negative test does not exempt you from the 14 day self-isolation period required by the Quarantine Act.
How to self-isolate
Self-isolating at home includes:
- Staying at home
- No visitors in your home unless essential (e.g. caregivers)
- Avoiding contact with others, including others in your home
- Have food brought to you
- Use a separate bedroom and bathroom, if possible
- If a separate bathroom is not an option, clean all surfaces with a disinfectant after use
- Keeping at least two metres distance between yourself and others
- Washing your hands and covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve
If you cannot self-isolate from others in your home, everyone in your home will need to self-isolate.
Gathering limits
Across Ontario there are gathering limits for unmonitored and private social gatherings include functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks and other recreational areas.
- 10 people at an indoor event or gathering
- 25 people at an outdoor event or gathering
Indoor and outdoor events and gatherings cannot be merged together. Gatherings of 35 (25 outdoors and 10 indoors) are not permitted.
Residents are reminded that physical distancing must be maintained with anyone not in your social circle. When physical distance cannot be guaranteed, a face covering should be worn in all settings.
Read more about gathering limits.
For complaints or inquiries contact local by-law. For details visit the Who to Contact page.
How to protect yourself
Everyday actions can help prevent the spread of germs and viruses like COVID-19:
- Practice physical distancing between yourself and people outside your social circle
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Wear a face covering in enclosed public places and on transit
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home when you are sick
- Sneeze and cough into your sleeve
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
Physical distancing
We encourage all residents to practice physical distancing (also known as social distancing). Physical distancing means keeping a distance of 2 metres between yourself and others when you leave your home as well as limiting the number of people you come into close contact with.
Physical distancing includes, but is not limited to:
- Limiting non-essential trips out of your home
- Maintaining a distance of 2 metres (two arms' length) between yourself and anyone outside of your social circle
- Limiting group gatherings
- Connecting with family and friends by phone, video chat or social media
- Working from home where possible
- Staying home when you are sick
Members of the same household or social circle do not need to distance from each other unless they are sick or have travelled within the past 14 days.
When you need to leave your home, make sure to avoid crowds and keep a distance of 2 metres (two arms' length) between yourself and others at all times.
These measures help protect yourself and others in our community. We are all in this together.
Create a social circle during COVID-19
Think of your social circle or 'bubble' as the people you can hug and touch, or those who can become part of your daily and weekly routines.
Keep your social circle small. Due to the pandemic progressing in Ontario, even though the limit in Ontario is no more than 10 people, we encourage those of us who can keep our social circles smaller, to do so.
Everyone living in the same household is in a social circle.
People in the same social circle:
- do not have to physically distance
- can hug and touch each other
- should continue to follow public health advice, including hand washing and staying home and self-isolate if you are sick
Visit create a social circle during COVID-19 for more information.
Staying healthy during COVID-19
- Adults and COVID-19
- Information about healthy eating, managing stress, physical activity, pregnancy, breastfeeding and more
- Children/Teens and COVID-19
- Information about healthy eating, managing stress, physical distancing, physical activity and more
Resources
Translated resources
| How to self-isolate at home |
| Know the facts about COVID-19 |
| Physical distancing |
| Reduce the spread of COVID-19 - Wash your hands |
Frequently Asked Questions
Review our list of Frequently Asked Questions.
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