Durham Health Connection Line is responding to messages only
Messages will be responded to from Monday to Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please leave only one message and your call will be returned in priority sequence.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please hang up and dial 911.
Durham Region Health Department strives to provide exceptional customer service. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are experiencing unprecedented call volumes that have resulted in extended response times. While we understand this may be frustrating, we have zero tolerance for clients that engage in the use of profane, aggressive, abusive, sexist, racist or homophobic language. Any such calls will not be responded to, and where necessary, referred to the appropriate authority for follow-up.
Facts about COVID-19
COVID-19 fact sheets
- COVID-19 close contact
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- COVID-19 vaccines
- Physical distancing
- Self-monitoring
- Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the home
- What do I do if my child is sick?
- COVID-19 in the school
- Outbreaks in schools
- Outbreak in a child care centre
- Instructions for individuals tested for COVID-19
- Self-isolation
- Guidance for community partners that are offering places to stay warm during COVID-19
- Information for shelter service settings providers
- Preventative measures for workplaces after a COVID-19 case
- Infection prevention and control in group home settings
- Migrant farm worker operations during COVID-19
- Community and allotment gardens during COVID-19
- Retail establishments
- Retail curbside pickup or delivery of goods during COVID-19
- Living in communal settings
- Surveillance testing
- Guidance for community partners that are offering places to stay cool during COVID-19
Public Health Agency of Canada COVID-19 information in other languages |
See additional COVID-19 information sheets in multiple languages. |
Credible online resources |
Frequently asked questions
What is COVID-19? |
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness in humans ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. In some cases, illness caused by novel coronavirus can be mild. In more severe cases, the novel coronavirus can cause pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe influenza-like illness, kidney failure and even death. The causative agent for COVID-19 disease is SARS-CoV-2 virus. For the purpose of clear communication, the term COVID-19 can refer to both the virus and the disease. On December 31, 2019, a cluster of cases of pneumonia was reported in Wuhan City, China. Recent information has confirmed a novel (or new) coronavirus (COVID-19) as the likely cause. |
What should I do if I have the signs and symptoms of COVID-19? |
This means that local area residents should only seek testing if they:
If you develop any of the symptoms above, self-isolate and seek clinical assessment by:
Note: The COVID-19 Assessment Clinic does not accept walk-ins.See all Ontario COVID-19 assessment centre locationsInstructions for individuals tested for COVID-19 Accessing your test resultsIf you have a green photo health card: COVID-19 test results can be accessed online through the Ontario government COVID-19 test results website. It may take up to five days for results to be posted on the website. If you do not have a health card, and/or have a red and white health card, and/or do not have internet access: Please call the COVID Assessment Results Line or contact your primary care provider at least five days after you have been tested. When contacting the COVID Assessment Results Line at 905-721-4842 follow the automated instructions to leave a voice mail.
If you test positive for COVID-1 you will be contacted by Durham Region Health Department, typically within 48 hours. The Health Department will provide you with information about the requirements to self-isolate and to identify potential contacts. |
COVID-19 presentation in children |
On May 13, the case definition for COVID-19 was updated to include multisystem inflammatory vasculitis as an atypical presentation in children. This inflammatory illness has recently been reported in a small number of children worldwide in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the symptoms associated with this illness include persistent fever, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms (including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) as well as rash. This multisystem inflammatory vasculitis has symptoms that may also occur in Kawasaki disease (an illness that causes inflammation of the arteries).
At this time the Ontario Ministry of Health guidance has not identified COVID-toes as an atypical symptom in children. COVID toes refers to skin findings observed in some individuals with COVID-19, characterized by swollen, painful and/or itchy lesions on the feet, toes and fingers. Please consult with your health care provider if you have concerns about your child’s health. |
How is it spread? |
COVID-19 can be spread from person to person through:
It is currently not known how long COVID-19 can survive outside of the body on a surface. |
What is physical distancing? |
Physical distancing is one of the most effective strategies to reduce the spread of illness, such as COVID-19, during an outbreak.Physical distancing means limiting close contact with others by:
Learn more about physical distancing. |
How can I protect myself? |
The Ontario Ministry of Health is advising all residents to practise physical distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. It is recommended to avoid contact with people outside of your immediate family. All Durham residents need to be aware of their underlying medical conditions and seek medical attention if there are changes from their regular baseline level. To reduce the spread of germs, including COVID-19 and the flu we recommend that you:
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How is COVID-19 treated? |
There is no specific treatment for COVID-19. Supportive care based on symptoms may be helpful. |
Is there a vaccine for COVID-19? |
Yes. Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are available to protect you and your family from COVID-19. Individuals are eligible to receive the vaccine based on Ontario’s three-phased vaccine distribution plan. This plan ensures those most vulnerable are protected first and is based on the advice of medical experts and ethicists. Currently, the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the Moderna vaccine are the only vaccines approved for use in Canada. The Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in individuals 16 years of age and older and the Moderna vaccine is approved for use in individuals 18 years of age and older. Both vaccines require two doses and are highly effective one week after the second dose is administered. There are no serious safety concerns, although some mild adverse events are common. To learn more about who should get the vaccine and who should not, see Facts about…COVID-19 vaccines.
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What is self-isolation? |
The following individuals are being advised to self-isolate and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
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What is the Health Department’s role in managing and monitoring COVID-19? |
Durham Region Health Department works closely with individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. This is done to help identify potential risk for other community members who may have had contact with the person diagnosed with COVID-19 while they were ill. This includes identifying and assessing the risk of exposure for individuals (e.g. health care providers who provided care for the individuals while they were ill) and community settings (e.g. clinic waiting rooms, public transit etc.).
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What are the potential impacts for workplaces? |
For health care settings, there is specific guidance from Ontario’s Ministry of Health This guidance can be accessed on our Health Care Professionals page. Durham Region’s emergency management experts have some advice on how businesses can prepare their staff and operations for possible business disruptions from COVID-19. |
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