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.
Businesses
Child and youth settings
Communities
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
Ventilation
Death care services
Ethics
Faith community leaders
Health professionals
Immunization
National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
Planning
- Planning guidance for immunization clinics for COVID-19 vaccines
- Planning guidance for administration of COVID-19 vaccines
Storage, handling and transportation
Vaccine confidence and training
Vaccine safety and side effects
Infection prevention and control
Acute care
Ambulance and outpatient care
Health care settings
- Update with consideration of Omicron: Interim COVID-19 infection prevention and control in the health care setting when COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed, December 23, 2021
- Routine practices and additional precautions for preventing the transmission of infection in healthcare settings
Home care
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
Remote care
Surveillance and reporting
Contact tracing
National definitions
- SARS-CoV-2 variants: National definitions, designations and public health actions
- National case definition: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Surveillance recommendations
Symptoms
Clinical features
Tools
Health sector preparation
General guidance
Management
Planning for immunization
Indigenous communities
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
Healthy living
Lifting public health measures
Long-term care
Industry
Related links
- COVID-19: Provincial and territorial resources
- Pandemics: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- Digital factsheets, printable posters and shareable videos on COVID-19 (multilingual products available)
- COVID-19: Social media and promotional resources for Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada
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