COVID-19: Guidance documents

We have developed guidance for managing COVID-19. This guidance is for:

• health professionals who manage clinical care, and infection prevention and control within health care facilities
• health professionals who develop public health advice, policies and programs
• a broad range of sectors, including:
  • industry
  • youth and child care settings
  • community-based services (for example, services for homeless people)
  • death services
  • faith community leaders

The guidelines complement provincial and territorial public health efforts. They were developed jointly by:

• the Public Health Agency of Canada
• Health Canada
• federal, provincial and territorial governments
• health authorities
• public health experts

We based this guidance on the best current scientific knowledge, expert opinion and public health practices. It may change as we learn more.

Provinces and territories also have guidance for health professionals. These may include legislative, regulatory, policy and practice requirements, as well as professional guidelines. Their recommendations may differ, reflecting differences in the epidemic across the country.

If you are a health care provider looking for guidance for your profession, contact the licensing or accreditation organization in your province.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety may also have guidance for your sector.

General guidance

• How businesses and employees can stay safe while operating during COVID-19

Tools

• Reducing COVID-19 risk in community settings: A tool for operators
• Non-contact infrared thermometers
• Pandemics: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Public health measures

• Reducing COVID-19 risk in community settings: A tool for operators

Public health measures (general)

• Reducing COVID-19 risk in community settings: A tool for operators
• Summary of evidence supporting COVID-19 public health measures
• Adjusting public health measures in the context of COVID-19 vaccination
• Readiness criteria and indicators for easing restrictive public health measures
• Guidance for a strategic approach to lifting restrictive public health measures

Specific populations

• COVID-19 and people with disabilities in Canada

Ventilation

• Guidance on indoor ventilation during the pandemic
• At home: Using ventilation and filtration to reduce the risk of aerosol transmission of COVID-19
• Using ventilation and filtration to reduce aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in long-term care homes

• Archived: Death care services and handling of dead bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Public health ethics framework: A guide for use in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

Immunization

National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)

• Recommendations from NACI on the use of COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses and influenza vaccine

Planning

• Planning guidance for immunization clinics for COVID-19 vaccines
• Planning guidance for administration of COVID-19 vaccines

Storage, handling and transportation

• National vaccine storage, handling and transportation guidelines for ultra-low temperature and frozen temperature COVID-19 vaccines

Vaccine confidence and training

• Webinars and webcasts on COVID-19 vaccines

Vaccine safety and side effects

• Reporting ocular adverse events following COVID‐19 vaccination: Communiqué to healthcare professionals (May 30, 2022)
• Reports of myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination: Communiqué to health practitioners (June 3, 2021)

Infection prevention and control

Acute care

• Infection prevention and control for COVID-19: Interim guidance for acute healthcare settings

Ambulance and outpatient care

• Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 for outpatient and ambulatory care settings

Health care settings

• Updated guidance for infection prevention and control in health care settings when COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed – April 2024
• Routine practices and additional precautions for preventing the transmission of infection in healthcare settings

Home care

• Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 for home care settings

Long-term care (general)

• Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 for long-term care homes
• Using ventilation and filtration to reduce aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in long-term care homes

Pets and long-term care

• COVID-19: Guidance on pets and long-term care homes

Remote care

• Infection prevention and control recommendations for medical evacuation by aircraft of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 from remote and isolated communities in Canada's North

Surveillance and reporting

Contact tracing

• Public health management of cases and contacts associated with COVID-19

National definitions

• SARS-CoV-2 variants: National definitions, designations and public health actions
• National case definition: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Surveillance recommendations

• National surveillance for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Symptoms

Clinical features

• COVID-19 signs, symptoms and severity of disease: A clinician guide

Tools

• Non-contact infrared thermometers

Testing

Antigen

• Guidance on the use of rapid antigen detection tests for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection

PCR

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cycle threshold (Ct) values in COVID-19 testing
• Guidance for repeated PCR testing in individuals previously positive for COVID-19
• National polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing indication guidance for COVID-19

Screening

• Pan-Canadian COVID-19 testing and screening guidance

Serology

• Requirements for serological antibody tests submitted under the COVID-19 interim order

Vaccination

• Testing for COVID-19 in vaccinated populations

Treatment

• Considerations for the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (brand name Paxlovid) to treat COVID-19 in the context of limited supply

Oral health

• Archived: Evidence to support safe return to clinical practice by oral health professionals in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: A report prepared for the Office of the Chief Dental Officer of Canada

General guidance

• COVID-19 pandemic guidance for the health care sector

Management

• Risk assessments for COVID-19 variants of concern
• Federal, provincial and territorial public health response plan for ongoing management of COVID-19

Planning for immunization

• Planning guidance for immunization clinics for COVID-19 vaccines
• Planning guidance for administration of COVID-19 vaccines
• COVID-19 immunization: Federal, provincial and territorial statement of common principles

Accessing care

• Expanding virtual care capacity in Canada's northern regions: Proposed approach for a rapid deployment
• Accessing COVID-19 public health support for First Nations communities

Emergency response

• Emergency response process for Indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Healthy living

• Core principles for good healthy living messages in First Nations, Inuit and Métis remote and isolated northern communities

Lifting public health measures

• Guidance on re-opening northern, remote, isolated, and Indigenous communities

Long-term care

• COVID-19 guidance for long-term care facilities and nursing homes in Indigenous communities

Manufacturers and distributors

• COVID-19 health product industry: Information for health product manufacturers and distributors

Tools

• Non-contact infrared thermometers

Vehicle operators

• Federal safety guidance to protect drivers and limit the spread of COVID-19 in commercial vehicle operations