COVID-19 Testing

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

• • 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.

•  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.

Which of these situations applies to you?

• I have symptoms
  • If you have symptoms, please refer to this chart to determine your next steps or take the self-assessment tool at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/

• 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/

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.