Ottawa’s COVID-19 testing criteria and important links

OTTAWA – Do you meet Ottawa Public Health’s (OPH) COVID-19 testing criteria? Read this to find out.

“The priority of the healthcare system is being able to test those who are most in need,” OPH released in a statement. “Not everyone requires testing.”

The following list of individuals need to be tested for COVID-19.

• Essential workers (person working directly with the public) who have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing
• Healthcare workers or a household member of a healthcare worker who has COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing
• Pregnant individuals who are in their third trimester and have respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing
• Returning travellers to Canada who have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing
• Close contacts (live with, provided care for, or spent extensive time with) of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 and you have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing

Are you an essential worker (person working directly with the public) who has COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing? You need to be tested for COVID-19.

Who is an essential worker? 

Essential workers are defined by the Government of Ontario and include but are not limited to workers in grocery stores, food services, maintenance, transportation, and utilities. See the full list of Ontario’s essential workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you can manage your symptoms at home (e.g., your symptoms are generally mild) – Learn more about testing.

If you feel you require care to manage your symptoms – Learn more about care AND testing.

If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, go to your nearest emergency department and/or call 911.

Are you a healthcare worker or a household member of a healthcare worker who has COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing? You need to be tested for COVID-19.

A Health Care Worker (HCW)  includes health professionals and non-health professionals in clinics, health care facilities, and institutions, who may be in contact with patients, residents, inmates, or other co-workers. 

Click here for examples of health care workers. 

If you can manage your symptoms at home (e.g., your symptoms are generally mild) *Note: Testing is indicated in healthcare workers and their household members even with mild respiratory symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, sputum production, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose) – Learn more about testing.

If you feel you require care to manage your symptoms – Learn more about care AND testing.

If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, go to your nearest emergency department and/or call 911.

Are you pregnant and are in the third trimester of your pregnancy and have respiratory symptoms such a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing? You need to be tested for COVID-19.

If you can manage your symptoms at home (e.g., your symptoms are generally mild) – Learn more about testing.

If you feel you require care to manage your symptoms – Learn more about care AND testing.

If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, go to your nearest emergency department and/or call 911.

Are you a returning traveller to Canada who has COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing? You need to be tested for COVID-19. Learn more about self-isolation.

If you can manage your symptoms at home (e.g., your symptoms are generally mild) – Learn more about testing.

If you feel you require care to manage your symptoms – Learn more about care AND testing.

If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, go to your nearest emergency department and/or call 911.

Are you a close contact (live with, provided care for, or spent extensive time with) of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 and you have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing? You need to be tested for COVID-19.

If you can manage your symptoms at home (e.g., your symptoms are generally mild) – Learn more about testing.

If you feel you require care to manage your symptoms – Learn more about care AND testing.

If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, go to your nearest emergency department and/or call 911.

Otherwise, use the self-assessment tool to help determine how to seek further care.

Testing of those without COVID-19 symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, or difficulty breathing) is not recommended.