If you have symptoms or have been exposed, take the COVID-19 self-assessment. Take it for yourself or on behalf of someone else and receive recommendations on what to do if you’ve been exposed
Am I eligible for a PCR Test?
Effective March 9, 2022, the following people are eligible for PCR testing:
- People with symptoms of COVID-19 who fall into one of the following groups:
- Patient-facing healthcare workers
- Staff, volunteers, residents/inpatients, essential care providers, and visitors in highest risk settings
- Highest risk settings include hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services) and congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including but not limited to Long-Term Care, retirement homes, First Nation eldercare lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices and correctional institutions, Provincial Demonstration Schools and hospital schools
- Home and community care workers
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- Household members of workers in highest risk settings and patient-facing health care workers
- Temporary Foreign Workers in congregate living settings
- Patients seeking emergency medical care, at the discretion of the treating clinician
- Outpatients for whom COVID-19 treatment is being considered, including:
- Immunocompromised individuals not expected to mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of vaccination status.
- Individuals who are not fully vaccinated and at highest risk of severe disease (anyone aged ≥70 years or ≥60 years who is Indigenous and/or has additional risk factors)
- Pregnant people
- People who are under-housed or homeless
- First responders, including fire, police and paramedics
- Elementary and secondary students and education staff who have received a PCR self-collection kit through their school
- People with or without symptoms of COVID-19:
- From First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities, and/or who self-identify as First Nation, Inuit, and Métis and their household members.
- Individuals travelling into First Nation, Inuit, Métis communities for work
- Close contacts and people in the context of confirmed or suspected outbreaks in highest risk settings as directed by the local public health unit
- Individuals, and one accompanying caregiver, with written prior approval for out-of-country medical services from the General Manager, OHIP
Asymptomatic testing in hospital, long-term care, retirement homes and other congregate living settings and institutions as per provincial guidance and/or Directives, or as directed by public health units.
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Where can I get a COVID-19 test?
- If you are eligible to receive a PCR test, please visit https://covid-19.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations to find your closest testing location.
- COVID-19 assessment centres no longer provide free COVID-19 tests for the purposes of pre-travel clearance. Some local pharmacies offer COVID-19 testing services for a fee.
- On 02/09/2022, The Ontario government expanded access to free rapid testing kits for at-home use. A list of participating retailers and how the kits are being distributed can be found at Ontario.ca/rapidtest. The free kits are available while supplies last with a limit of one box of five tests per household per visit. Please note, not all locations listed may have a supply in stock.
- At this time the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit does not have rapid antigen tests available to distribute to the public.
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What do I do if I do not qualify for a COVID-19 test?
Which of these situations applies to you?
- I have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19
- If you’ve been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR, rapid molecular or rapid antigen test, please refer to this chart to determine your next steps or take the self-assessment tool at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/
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I’ve had a PCR test. What should I do next?
If you had a PCR test, follow these next steps while you wait for your results.
- Complete the self-assessment online at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/ to determine if you need to isolate and for your next steps.
- Check your results online https://covid-19.ontario.ca
- If you work in a highest risk setting and have symptoms or have been exposed, please notify your employer and do not return to work for 10 days. Highest risk settings include:
- Hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services)
- Congregate living settings, including Long-Term Care, retirement homes, First Nation eldercare lodges, group home, shelters, hospices and correctional institutions, provincial demonstration schools and hospital schools
- If your result is positive, continue to self-isolate.
- Public health or the provincial workforce may contact you. You may receive a call or a text message.
- The Health Unit is not following up with all positive cases, please refer to www.hnhu.org for more information on the next steps.
- If your symptoms become unmanageable, seek medical attention.
- If you have questions, call the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit COVID-19 hotline at 519-426-6170 ext. 9999.
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If you require any additional support, please call 1 (888) 777-0730 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST 7 days a week
Last updated 06/14/2022