Ontario COVID-19 Assessment Centres

Ontarians concerned they may have COVID-19 should conduct the self-assessment, and/or call their healthcare provider, local health authority, or Telehealth first to have a preliminary assessment of symptoms, since they may risk exposure to the virus by visiting a centre. 

Patients prioritized for testing are individuals who are:

Symptomatic - have a flu-like illness: fever, cough, sore throat or respiratory symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath, trouble breathing), or show signs of atypical symptoms (particularly children, older adults and people living with a developmental disability). A list of additional symptoms is available from the Ministry of Health.

Asymptomatic - present no symptoms but:

- Have been in contact with a confirmed case within 14 days;

- Are in specific settings (facility transfers, hospital surgeries, long-term care and retirement homes, other congregate living settings and institutions, remote/isolated/rural/indigenous communities, workplaces and communities who had contact with a positive case. Residents or workers at specific outbreak sites may be instructed to get tested at the direction of public health);

- Are healthcare workers/caregivers/care providers/first responders/emergency child care centre workers and those living in same household;

- Are essential workers, cross-border workers and other priority populations; or

- Workers or students in schools (K-12, post-secondary) may be tested at the direction of their local public health unit. 

Over time, this list is expected to include broader population groups. Updates will be made based on the Ontario government’s latest testing guidelines.