COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers

COVID-19 Case Definition

Refer to COVID-19 Case Definition, Ontario. Check frequently for updates.

Key guidance documents for health care providers

Sector-based Guidance Documents for Healthcare (Ministry of Health)
Sector-specific guidelines and posters to help protect workers, customers and the general public from coronavirus (COVID-19) (Ministry of Health)
COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Omicron Surge Management of Critical Staffing Shortages in High-Risk Settings (Ministry of Health)

Guidance documents for long-term care and retirement homes

COVID-19 Guidance: Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes for Public Health Units (Ontario)
Directive #5 for Hospital and LTCH Settings (Ontario Health)
COVID-19: Visiting Long-term Care Homes (Ontario)
COVID-19 Screening Tool for Long Term Care and Retirement Homes (Ontario)
COVID-19: Updated Infection Prevention and Control for Long Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes (Public Health Ontario)
Universal Masking in Health Care Settings (Public Health Ontario)
Public Health Ontario Long Term Care Resources

Vaccine Order and Reporting Forms

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

For general COVID-19 vaccine information, updates and frequently asked questions, please visit our COVID-19 Vaccine web page. For weekly health care provider updates, please check our Alerts, Advisories and Information Updates.

Ministry of Health - COVID-19 Vaccine-Relevant Information and Planning (Updated Resources)
Health Canada - Reported Side Effects Following COVID-19 Vaccination in Canada (Weekly)
Public Health Ontario - COVID-19 Vaccines (includes AEFI Reporting and Surveillance Reports)
NACI (National Advisory Committee on Immunizations) - Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 Vaccine
NACI - Statements and Publications (General)
Other Relevant Vaccine Information & Forms:

Vaccine Hesitancy Resources for Health Care Professionals
SWPH & HPPH - Health Sector 3As - Intervention Flow Chart SWPH - 3As Approach to Vaccine Hesitancy (Sample Policy) SPWH - Health Sector 3As - Judgment Free Zone Poster SWPH - COVID-19 Fact Sheet: Addressing Misconceptions with Patients SWPH - COVID-19 Vaccines, Your Faith and You College of Family Physicians of Canada - Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Public Health Ontario - Building Confidence in Vaccines Ministry of Health - Needle Fear Resource Ministry of Health - Reducing Vaccination Pain in Adults Health Canada - Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy National Institutes of Health - A Communicator's Tip Sheet for COVID-19 Vaccination National Institutes of Health - Applying Behavioral and Social Science to Address Vaccine Hesitancy and Foster Vaccine Confidence

Vaccine Hesitancy Resources for Health Care Professionals

COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Exemptions

Southwestern Public Health will only receive requests for COVID-19 vaccine medical exemptions from registered health care professionals. Click here for the medical exemption form. Completed forms must be faxed to 519-633-0468 and make take up to 7 business days to adjudicate the request.

Please refer to the guidance document before completing a request.

COVID-19 Screening and Assessment

COVID-19 Testing

Downloadable Template: Proof of Negative Antigen Test for Physicians in Long-Term Care Settings

Ministry of Health Testing Guidance
- COVID-19 Reference Document for Symptoms
- COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance Update
COVID-19 Sample Collection
- Submitting a Sample (COVID-19 Requisition)
- COVID-19 Test Requisition (How to Complete)
- COVID-19 Laboratory Testing Q&As (Public Health Ontario)
- Collecting a NP Swab (Video)
- Ordering Supplies

COVID-19 Outpatient Antiviral Treatments

Clinical Use Guidance (Ontario Science Table)
Oxford/Woodstock Referrals: Woodstock General Hospital - By appointment only. Call 1-855-905-6148 (Monday to Sunday, 8AM to 4PM).
Elgin/St. Thomas Referrals: St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital - Patients may be referred by their primary care provider or be directed to/chose to self-refer by calling 519-631-2020 ext. 6210. Paxlovid Prescription Form
Additional Option for Referrals: London Health Sciences Centre - Paxlovid Referral Form ; Prescription Form
Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid): What Prescribers and Pharmacists Need to Know (Ontario Science Table)
Script to support staff in identifying patients who may be eligible for treatment (Health Quality Ontario)
Paxlovid monograph (Health Canada)

COVID-19 Reporting

Call Southwestern Public Health:

Toll Free: 1-800-922-0096
St. Thomas Site: 519-631-9900
Woodstock Site: 519-421-9901

Infection prevention and control

Directive #5 for Hospital and LTCH Settings (Ontario Health)
Infection Prevention and Control Fundamentals – Training Resources (Public Health Ontario)
Updated IPAC Measures for COVID-19 (Public Health Ontario)
Video: Donning Full PPE for Health Care Workers (Public Health Ontario)
Video: Doffing Full PPE for Health Care Workers (Public Health Ontario)
COVID-19 Universal Masking Use in Health Care Settings (Public Health Ontario)
Online Learning Modules: Infection Prevention and Control
Routine Practices (Public Health Ontario)
Best Practices for Hand Hygiene in Health Care Settings (Public Health Ontario)
Cleaning and Disinfection in Public Spaces (Public Health Ontario)
Elgin-Oxford IPAC Support & Decision Process

Routine Auditing

Auditing tool (Public Health Ontario)
Hand Hygiene Auditing Information (Public Health Ontario)
PPE Auditing Information (Public Health Ontario)