March 19, 2020: Memo: Managing Health Worker Illness and Return to Work COVID-19 (Ministry of Health)
Resources for health professionals
- Case definition - Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Ministry of Health)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): For health professionals (PHAC)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing (Public Health Ontario)
- COVID-19 health care resources (Public Health Ontario)
- COVID-19 public resources (Public Health Ontario)
- Guidance for the Health Sector (Ministry of Health)
- How you can help during the pandemic (Family and Children's Services of the Waterloo Region)
- Memo: Managing Health Worker Illness and Return to Work COVID-19 (Ministry of Health)
Assessment centre referral
Employees of local hospitals, long-term care facilities, retirement or group homes, and first responders can enquire about testing through their employers.
All health care workers in the community can self-refer for testing to any of the assessment and testing centres.
General health information
Mental health resources for health professionals
- Crisis training for essential workers (Mental Health Commission of Canada)
- ECHO Coping with COVID (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health & University of Toronto)
- Here 24/7 (Addictions, Mental Health & Crisis Services Waterloo - Wellington)
- Here4Healthcare (Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington)
- Mental health and COVID-19 (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
- Ontario COVID-19 Mental Health Network
Resources for long-term care and retirement homes
Refer to the Ministry of Health's Guidance for the Health Sector for more information.
Quick links
- COVID-19 guidance: long-term care homes
- COVID-19 outbreak guidance for long-term care homes
- Guidance for mark use in long-term care homes and retirement homes
- Long-term care homes COVID-19 screening checklist
Outbreaks in LTC or retirement homes
Based on updated guidance, an outbreak will be declared in a long-term care or retirement home when one or more resident or staff tests positive for COVID-19.
If there is a declared COVID-19 outbreak, in a LTC or retirement home, a member of the Region of Waterloo Public Health’s Respiratory Team will work closely with the facility.
All facilities with declared COVID-19 outbreaks will be posted on the Waterloo Region COVID-19 summary dashboard.
Staff with symptoms of COVID-19
- Any staff who develop symptoms must immediately stop working and notify their supervisor or infection control professional who will manage health worker illness and return to work, based on Ministry guidelines
- Symptomatic staff should self-isolate at home and call their facility contact manager or occupational health to COVID-19 testing and to receive additional guidance
- All staff who have had symptoms should work with their employer to determine when they are able to return to work
Resources for group homes and co-living settings
Refer to the Ministry of Health’s Guidance for Group Homes and Co-Living Settings for more information.
All staff, volunteers and returning residents should be actively screened on intake and use the self-assessment tool. Those who fail screening are not permitted to enter.
Residents with symptoms of COVID-19
If residents are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 refer them to their family practitioner to arrange for testing through the COVID Assessment Centre. If mobility of a resident is a concern, contact Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400 to arrange testing for residents.
Staff with symptoms of COVID-19
If staff or volunteers in a group home develop symptoms or have been exposed to a confirmed case, they need to self-isolate and use the self-assessment tool to determine how to seek further care. Staff and volunteers should speak with their facility contact, manager or occupational health to be referred to their designated testing facility.
Print resources
Contact Us