Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Guidance documents
The following is ethical and technical guidance on COVID-19 for various audiences.
About guidance creation
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.
Ethics
For communities
- Guidance for a strategic approach to lifting restrictive public health measures
- Community-based measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Canada
- Risk mitigation tool for outdoor recreation spaces and activities operating during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Guidance for providers of services for people experiencing homelessness (in the context of COVID-19)
- COVID-19 and people with disabilities in Canada
- Risk mitigation tool for gatherings and events operating during the COVID-19 pandemic
For child and youth settings
For post-secondary institutions
For health professionals
Clinical care
Immunization
Infection prevention and control
- Second interim guidance for acute healthcare settings
- Interim guidance for outpatient and ambulatory care settings
- Interim guidance for home care settings
- Interim guidance: Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 and long-term care homes
- Routine practices and additional precautions for preventing the transmission of infection in healthcare settings
Surveillance and reporting
Health sector preparation
For businesses
- Risk mitigation tool for workplaces/businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Bank of Canada asks retailers to continue accepting cash
- Advice for essential retailers during COVID-19 pandemic
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- COVID-19 resources and guidance for businesses
- Caring for Heritage Collections during the COVID-19 Pandemic
For industry
For death care services
For faith community leaders
What COVID-19 information do you need?
- Health and safety
- Prevention and risks
- What is my risk of getting COVID-19 in Canada?
- Quarantine (self-isolate) vs isolate
- Physical (social) distancing and how it helps minimize COVID-19
- Am I able to go outside?
- Surface contamination
- Pregnancy and risks related to COVID-19
- Can COVID-19 be transmitted through food?
- Can my pet or other animals get sick from this virus?
- Hygiene
- Wearing masks
- Symptoms and treatment
- Reduce COVID-19 in your community
- For individuals
- For communities, including child and youth settings and outdoor spaces
- How do I care for a person with COVID-19 at home?
- I am an essential employee, what can I do to protect myself while on the job?
- Public health measures to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace
- Are gatherings still allowed to take place?
- Drug and medical device supply monitoring
- Travel restrictions and exemptions
- Are Canadians currently able to travel to the U.S.?
- Travellers arriving in Canada
- Avoid all non-essential travel
- Avoid all travel on cruise ships
- Registration of Canadians Abroad service
- Check if you have been exposed during recent travel
- I have to travel for essential reasons. How can I reduce my risk of infection?
- I am a Canadian travelling abroad and I need support. Who can I contact?
- I am a traveller trying to return home to Canada. How do I get financial support while abroad?
- For clinical trial sponsors
- Prevention and risks
- Income support
- Additional economic and financial support
- Individuals
- Individuals and families
- Indigenous peoples
- People who need it most
- Seniors
- Youth, post-secondary students and recent graduates
- Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
- Creating new jobs and opportunities
- Launching a new national service initiative
- Helping students continue their studies in the fall
- Supporting international students working in an essential service
- Suspending repayment and interest on student and apprentice loans
- Providing youth with mental health support
- Support for businesses
- Avoiding layoffs and rehiring employees
- Access to credit
- Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)
- Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)
- Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)
- Rural businesses and communities
- Assisting innovative and early-stage businesses
- Young entrepreneurs
- Businesses in the territories
- Small and medium-sized businesses unable to access other support measures
- Creating new jobs and opportunities for youth
- Taxes and tariffs
- Self-employed individuals
- Indigenous businesses
- Support for sectors
- Agriculture, agri-food, aquaculture, fisheries
- Keeping workers in the food supply chain safe
- Increasing credit availability
- Assisting the fish and seafood processing sector
- Helping food producers access more PPE and adapt to health protocols
- Helping producers faced with additional costs incurred by COVID-19
- Increasing the Canadian Dairy Commission borrowing limit
- Helping redistribute existing and unsold inventories
- Increasing interim payments from 50% to 75% through AgriStability
- Expanding the AgriInsurance to include labour shortage
- Cultural, heritage and sports
- Air transportation
- Tourism
- Energy
- Non-profit and charitable
- Agriculture, agri-food, aquaculture, fisheries
- Individuals
- About COVID-19
- E-mail updates on COVID-19
- Current confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Canada
- More details about the cases reported in Canada
- Canadian borders
- Support for Canadians abroad
- What is COVID-19?
- Incubation period
- How does it spread?
- What are the risks of getting it?
- Where can I get information specific to my province or territory?
- How governments are working together
- How can I make a difference in Canada’s COVID-19 response efforts?
- Resources for parents and children
- People with disabilities
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