COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers

Workplace Vaccination Policies

• Letter of Recommendation for Workplace Vaccination Policies (Issued September 20, 2021)
• Guidance: How to Create a Workplace Vaccination Policy 

Proof of Vaccination Requirements

Provincial

• Ontario Releasing Guidance to Support Proof of Vaccination Policy (Ontario Newsroom, September 14, 2021)
• Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations Under the Reopening Ontario Act (Ministry of Health)
• Proof of Vaccination Questions and Answers (Ministry of Health)
• FAQ: Using Your Vaccine Receipt (Ontario Newsroom, September 14, 2021)
• Ontario Regulation 364/20: Proof of Vaccination Requirements (see Schedule 1, section 2.1) 
• Download signs for requiring proof of vaccination to use in your business

Southwestern Public Health

• Letter of Instruction: Proof of Vaccination for Facilities used for Organized Sports - Updated October 14, 2021

 Screening Resources

• COVID-19 Screening Tool for Workers (Ministry of Health)
• COVID-19 Online Worker and Employee Screening (Ministry of Health)
• COVID-19 Screening Tool for Patrons (Ministry of Health)
• Signage Questions for Businesses and Organizations (Ministry of Health)
• Visitor Screening Sign

Personal Protective Equipment and Face Coverings

• Provincial Face Covering Information
• MOH Letter of Instruction Regarding Face Coverings
• Memo: Message to Businesses Regarding Revision of Letter of Instruction
• Mandatory Face Covering FAQ
• Signage: Face Covering Entrance Poster (full colour) // (black & white)
• Signage: Simple Face Covering Poster
• Signage: Face Covering Exemption Poster
• How to choose an effective non-medical mask

• Using Masks in the Workplace
• Eye Protection Guidelines

Rapid Antigen Testing

Rapid antigen testing is an additional screening method that can help to identify cases of COVID-19 early, before they are spread to others.

Organizations can test and get results in about 15 minutes on-site. Some organizations, workplaces and communities in Ontario may be able to access free test kits through the Provincial Rapid Antigen Screening Program. Small and medium sized organizations can also access free rapid antigen screening kits through local Chamber’s of Commerce. 

The province has developed COVID-19 Guidance: Considerations for Antigen Point-of-Care Testing that provides more information to workplaces.

Rapid antigen testing should be used for screening purposes only; it is not diagnostic and is not a replacement for following public health measures such as COVID-19 vaccination, wearing a face covering, physical distancing, and staying home when sick.

Rapid antigen testing should not be used to test individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or individuals with a known close contact with a positive COVID-19 case; these individuals should visit a local assessment centre for PCR testing.

A positive result from a rapid antigen test is considered a preliminary or presumptive positive result; anyone with a positive rapid test result must seek confirmation through a lab-based PCR test within 48 hours and must self-isolate until the results of the lab-based test are known.

General Guidance on Public Health Measures

Provincial Resources

• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: COVID-19 Guidance and Tip Sheets
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: COVID-19 Workplace Toolkit 
• Ministry of Health: COVID-19 Support for Workers website
• Ministry of Health: Support for Businesses including the Business Information Line
• Infographic: Coping with Stress during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Southwestern Public Health Resources

• Guidance for Public Health Principles for Public Spaces
• Guidance for Meal and Break Rooms
• Guidance for Public Washrooms 
• Guidance for Office Environments
• Guidance for Physical Barriers
• COVID-19 Guidance for Reducing Risk from Contaminated Surfaces
• Poster: Keeping Businesses Safe During COVID-19
• Infographic: Keeping Businesses Safe During COVID-19
• Visitor Log Contract Tracing Information

Sector Specific Guidance

Personal Service Settings

• Guidance for Personal Service Settings (SWPH)
• Public Health Ontario: Guide to infection prevention and control in personal service settings

Food Premises

• Guidance for Food Premises (SWPH)
• Guidance for Physical Barriers (SWPH)
• COVID-19 Data Collection Notice (SWPH)

Retail Settings

• Guidance for Retail Settings (SWPH)

Fitness Facilities

• Guidance for Sports and Recreational Fitness Facilities, Personal Training, Sports Team and Community Centres (SWPH)
• Return-to-play framework for professional and elite amateur sport leagues and events
• Letter of Instruction: Proof of Vaccination for Facilities used for Organized Sports - Updated October 14, 2021

Taxis and Ride Shares

• Guidance for Taxis and Ride Shares (SWPH)

If you are looking for a guidance document specific to your workplace that has not been listed here, please refer to:

• Resources to Prevent COVID-19 in the Workplace (Ministry of Health Guidance Documents)
• Public Services Health and Safety Association
• Workplace Safety North
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services
• Infrastructure Health and Safety Association

Workplace Outbreak Resources

• COVID-19 Guidance for Workplace Outbreaks (Ministry of Health)
• COVID-19 Guidance for Workplace Outbreak Management (SWPH)

Guidance for Seasonal Farms

• Multiple Housing Cohorting Plan 
• Video: Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace (Spanish)
• Signage: Infographic: Physical Distancing for Farm Workers (English) // (Spanish) 
• Signage: Physical Distancing Poster (Spanish)

For more information on managing seasonal housing, visit our seasonal housing page.

Class Order, Section 22 (for agricultural farms)

• Class Order - Amended April 21, 2021 4pm
• Fact Sheet - Amended July 10, 2020 4pm

Signage

• Physical Distancing Poster
• Wash Your Hands Poster
• Break Poster (Ontario)
• Lunch Poster (Ontario)
• Staying Healthy Brochure
• If You’re Sick, Don’t Visit
• How to Wash Your Hands Poster
• COVID-19 Mental Health Poster
• Ontario: Posters for Your Workplace (variety of topics, languages)

Infection Prevention and Control Resources

• Mixing of Bleach Solution for Disinfecting
• Southwestern Public Health Infection Control Resources & Information
• Workplace PPE Supplier Directory
• Cleaning & Disinfection in Public Spaces
• What you need to know about face coverings and face masks
• Video: How to properly put on and take off a cloth mask
• Alternative PPE Supplier List

Financial Relief

• Government of Ontario COVID-19 Support for Businesses
• Community Futures Oxford Business Resource Centre Regional Relief Recovery Fund
• Elgin Business Resource Centre Regional Relief Recovery Fund