Travel
Do fully vaccinated international travellers need to wear a mask for 14 days after arriving in Canada?
Fully vaccinated travellers arriving to Canada on or after April 25, 2022, will no longer be federally required to mask while in public spaces however, this new measure only applies after travelers have completed their travel journey.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2022/04/government-of-canada-announces-additional-easing-of-border-measures-effective-april-25.html
Is community care setting considered HRS for the purpose of PCR eligibility?
Home and community care or paramedic services, are considered highest risk groups for the purposes of molecular testing eligibility, and access to testing for return to work.
Pg 14 - PH Guidance on Cases and Contracts (gov.on.ca)
An international traveller has been selected for arrival testing to be completed at home. There's an issue with submitting the complete sample. What does the caller do?
Contact Switch Health for additional support. Also contact your local veterinary services.
A 4yo child that turns 5 later this year. At this time, can they receive the covid-19 vaccine?
If my child is turning five in 2022, do they have to wait until their birthday to get vaccinated?
Yes. At this time, children must have turned five years of age to be eligible to receive the paediatric dose of the COVID-19 vaccine that is approved for children aged five to 11. Clinical trials for children under five are currently underway.
COVID-19 vaccine information for children (ages five to 11) (aboutkidshealth.ca)
My spouse has covid-19. What types of food should my husband eat while experiencing GI symptoms?
Please speak to an HCP such as a Registered Dietitian. By calling 811, Ontarians will be able to speak to a qualified health professional, such as a registered nurse, day or night, in English and French, with translation support also offered in other languages. Any calls made to Telehealth Ontario will be automatically re-directed to the new service.” https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002095/ontario-launches-new-tool-to-connect-people-to-nurses-and-other-health-services-from-anywhere-at-any-time
If someone tested positive at home via RAT after arrival in Canada, what should they do?
Follow provincial guidelines.
Pg 12 - PH Guidance on Cases and Contracts (gov.on.ca)
Caller had covid-19 2 months ago. Caller now experiencing a cough, but has with a negative RAT. Not eligible for PCR testing. What would you recommend?
Isolate.
Take another RAT after 24-48 hours
o A single negative rapid antigen test in an individual with COVID-19 symptoms does not mean that they do not have COVID-19 infection, and the symptomatic individual should not end their isolation on this basis. o If two consecutive rapid antigen tests, separated by 24-48 hours, are both negative, the symptomatic individual is less likely to have COVID-19 infection, and they are advised to self-isolate until they have no fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) (Pg 8 - Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario April 19, 2022 (version 14.1)) Can also reference pg 16 - 5.4.
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Caller is in their 60's, vaccinated x4 & has some health conditions. Caller has a fever, cough & tested positive on a RAT. Caller's asking to get a free PCR test. Is the caller eligible?
No he is not eligible for PCR testing.
COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance (gov.on.ca)
For the administration of the Pfizer pediatric formulation, what is the minimum waiting period between the pediatric covid-19 vaccine & receiving an influenza vaccination?
The pediatric formulation of the Pfizer-BioNTech (10 mcg per dose) COVID-19 vaccine may be administered simultaneously with, or at any time before or after, seasonal influenza vaccines. Influenza vaccine planning for the 2022/23 season should assume co-administration of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines and influenza vaccines.
Pg 1 - Recommendations: Co-Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines in Children 5-11 Years (publichealthontario.ca)
I am being selected and directed to take molecular test after arriving in Ontario, Canada recently. It has been over 72 hours. What should I do?
Confirmed that he received the ‘credible’
from quarantine.covid.19.quarantaine@notification.ca
and the need to follow-up from Switch Health
Caller plans to will follow-up. Advice as per supervisor.
Caller shares custody of a child. The child is positive for covid-19 & is currently with the caller. The other parent has their own place.
The child is due to return to the other parents house. Can the child switch houses?
The child should remain where he or she is until finished isolation.
Caller's having surgery in a week. Is the person eligible for PCR testing? If so, how do I get it?
1-Yes the caller is eligible for PCR testing. "Any patient with a scheduled surgical procedure requiring a general anaesthetic 24-48 hours prior to procedure date" COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance (gov.on.ca)
2-provide COVID-19 testing locations (ontario.ca)
Is a booster dose recommended for pregnant women?
Pregnant women mount immune responses to COVID vaccines comparable to the non-pregnant population. While timing and criteria for booster doses may vary by jurisdiction, pregnant women should receive a booster dose when recommended.
EN_HCP-FAQ_SOGC_FINAL.pdf
I received a call from 1-888-336-7735. Is this legitimate?
Respond to calls or visits from screening officers or law enforcement.
COVID-19: For travellers with symptoms, a positive test, who aren’t fully vaccinated without symptoms, or who don’t have a fully vaccinated exemption - Canada.ca (topic: Isolation)
A LTC home is experiencing an outbreak. The floor has been on isolation for 2 weeks. Who is directing the LTC isolation procedures?
The local PHU is responsible for investigating (e.g., determining when cases are epidemiologically linked), declaring, and managing outbreaks under the HPPA. As such, the local PHU directs and coordinates the outbreak response. LTCHs and RHs must adhere to any guidance provided by the local PHU with respect to implementation of any additional measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the setting.
COVID-19 Guidance: Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes for Public Health Units Version 5 – April 13, 2022. Outbreak Management.
You’re speaking with an international student. They received 2 doses of a non-Health Canada approved vaccine in their home country. What does the individual do now & do I need any more vaccinations?
1-locate which PHU the caller lives
2-using the PHU's website, the caller will need to submit his/her records of vaccination to their PHU
3-see Recommendations for individuals who plan on staying in Canada for longer periods of time and who are vaccinated with non-Health Canada authorized vaccines
COVID-19: Recommendations for those vaccinated with vaccines not authorized by Health Canada for those staying in Canada to live, work or study - Canada.ca
What's Monkeypox's incubation period?
"The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days." Monkeypox (who.int)
Is a unvaccinated 13yo allowed to board a flight?
Mandatory vaccination to board
If you’re 12 years of age plus 4 months, or older, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated in order to board:
Contact your airline or railway company about their boarding requirements and refund policies.
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/domestic-travel
Two days ago, I went to lunch with a friend. I just found out I’ve been exposed to covid-19. What do I do? Am I required to isolate?
First - probe to find out if the caller was directly exposed or if it's someone else who was exposed & the caller is "2nd removed."
Provide ontario.ca/exposed & go through the guidance for the caller specific scenario.
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This past weekend my mother became unwell & I called 911. My father & I (adult child) were present when 911 arrived & I helped them load my mother into the ambulance. It's now 3 days later, the hospital called & told us my mother's positive for covid-19 & that we're required to isolate. They also told us to get a PCR test. How do we get these PCR tests?
1-focused on pg 12 of CCM. Both had symptoms & are required to isolate.
2-spouse was above age limit & eligible for PCR testing
3-Adult child did not meet the eligibility requirements, so the individual could call the testing centers, speak to someone & let them know what they were told from the hospital & see if the testing centre will do a PCR test or not.
When can I get my booster vaccine after recovering from covid-19?
NACI has suggested a 3-month interval between infection and COVID-19 booster dose (i.e., 3 months after symptom onset or positive test if asymptomatic) or 6 months from the most recent vaccine dose, whichever is longer.
An Advisory Committee Statement (ACS) National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
Initial guidance on a second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada
Published: April 5, 2022
You may also receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are asymptomatic and have completed your isolation period after being sick with COVD-19. However, longer intervals between infection and vaccination may result in a better immune response.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine | COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario
In humans, how is Monkeypox spread?
"Human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects." Monkeypox (who.int)
"I want to remind Canadians that this disease spreads via close contacts – so public health measures like physical distancing, handwashing, and respiratory etiquette such as wearing masks can help reduce your risk"