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
Communities
- Readiness criteria and indicators for easing restrictive public health measures
- At home: Using ventilation and filtration to reduce the risk of aerosol transmission of COVID-19
- Guidance on indoor ventilation during the pandemic
- Plan a safe holiday or celebration
- Safety advice for private indoor gatherings
- Guidance for a strategic approach to lifting restrictive public health measures
- Individual and 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
Child and youth settings
Post-secondary institutions
Health professionals
Symptoms
Immunization
- Recommendations for use
- Interim national vaccine storage, handling and transportation guidelines for ultra-low temperature and frozen temperature COVID-19 vaccines
- Webinars on COVID-19 vaccines
- Interim guidance on continuity of immunization programs during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Priority groups and early vaccination
- Influenza in the context of COVID-19
Infection prevention and control
- Using Ventilation and filtration to reduce aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in long-term care homes
- 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
- Infection prevention and control for COVID-19: Interim guidance for acute healthcare settings
- Interim guidance: Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 for outpatient and ambulatory care settings
- Interim guidance: Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 for home care settings
- Interim guidance: Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 for long-term care homes
- Routine practices and additional precautions for preventing the transmission of infection in healthcare settings
Surveillance and reporting
Testing
- Guidance for repeated PCR testing in individuals previously positive for COVID-19
- Interim guidance on the use of rapid antigen detection tests for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Pan-Canadian COVID-19 testing and screening guidance
- National polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing indication guidance for COVID-19
- Requirements for serological antibody tests submitted under the COVID-19 interim order
Health sector preparation
- Planning guidance for administration of COVID-19 vaccine
- Planning guidance for immunization clinics for COVID-19 vaccines
- COVID-19 immunization: Federal, provincial and territorial statement of common principles
- Federal/provincial/territorial public health response plan for ongoing management of COVID-19
- COVID-19 pandemic guidance for the health care sector
Businesses
- Non-contact infrared thermometers (NCIT)
- 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
Indigenous communities
- Accessing additional public health support for First Nations and Inuit communities during COVID-19
- Protecting the health and safety of Indigenous communities in close proximity to natural resource operations
- COVID-19 guidance for long-term care facilities and nursing homes in Indigenous communities
- Emergency response process during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Core Principles for Good Healthy Living Messages in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Remote and Isolated Northern Communities
- Guidance on Re-Opening Northern, Remote, Isolated, and Indigenous Communities
- Expanding Virtual Care Capacity in Canada's Northern Regions: Proposed Approach for a Rapid Deployment
Industry
- Non-contact infrared thermometers (NCIT)
- Federal safety guidance to protect drivers and limit the spread of COVID-19 in commercial vehicle operations
- COVID-19 health product industry: Information for health product manufacturers and distributors
- Guidance material for air operators managing travellers during the check-in procedure for flights departing from an aerodrome in Canada
Death care services
Related links
What COVID-19 information do you need?
- Travel
- Testing and quarantine requirements
- Find out if you can travel to Canada
- COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada
- Travel restrictions in Canada
- Quarantine and isolation for travellers
- Compassionate exemptions
- Registration of Canadians Abroad service
- Check if you have been exposed during recent travel
- Vaccines
- Health and safety
- Prevention
- Risks and spread
- Difference between quarantine vs isolate
- Overview of the risks of getting COVID-19
- Surface contamination
- How can I go out safely during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Which people are at risk of severe outcomes?
- Pregnancy and risks related to COVID-19
- Can my pet or other animals get sick from this virus?
- How do I care for a person with COVID-19 at home?
- Symptoms and treatment
- What can I do to care for my mental and physical health?
- Drug and medical device supply monitoring
- For clinical trial sponsors
- Income support
- Additional economic and financial support
- Individuals
- Support for businesses
- Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs
- Financial support, loans and access to credit
- Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) interest-free loans
- Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
- Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
- Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
- Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
- Mid-Market Financing Program
- Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program
- Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
- Additional support by sector
- Provincial and territorial support
- Self-employed individuals
- Indigenous businesses
- Support for sectors
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Aquaculture and fisheries
- Cultural, heritage and sport
- Energy
- Infrastructure
- Organizations helping Canadians
- Vulnerable populations
- Indigenous organizations and communities
- Foreign workers coming to Canada
- 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
- How does it spread?
- Where can I get information specific to my province or territory?
- How governments are working together
- Resources for parents and children
- Resources for youth, students and young adults
- Resources for seniors and their caregivers
- Resources for Indigenous communities
- People with disabilities
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