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
- 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
Child and youth settings
Post-secondary institutions
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
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
Industry
Death care services
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
- People with disabilities
- Post-secondary students and recent graduates
- Seniors
- Indigenous peoples
- Supporting Indigenous communities
- Making personal hygiene products and nutritious food more affordable
- Providing support to Indigenous post-secondary students
- Funding for additional health care resources for Indigenous communities
- Boosting the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program
- New shelters to protect and support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence
- Support for businesses
- Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs
- Taxes and tariffs
- Financial support, loans and access to credit
- Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) interest-free loans
- Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
- Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)
- Mid-Market Financing Program
- Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program
- Businesses in the territories
- Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
- Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) for early-stage businesses
- Additional support by sector
- Targeted support
- Self-employed individuals
- Indigenous businesses
- Supporting financial stability
- Support for sectors
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Keeping workers in the food supply chain safe
- Increasing credit availability
- 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 AgriInsurance to include labour shortage
- Additional support for your business
- Aquaculture and fisheries
- Cultural, heritage and sport
- Air transportation
- Tourism
- Energy
- Academic and research
- Infrastructure
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Organizations helping Canadians
- Services to those in need
- Seniors
- People who need it most
- People with disabilities
- 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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