COVID-19 Information Guide

Definition of COVID-19

COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough and fatigue.

Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include:

Loss of taste or smell
Nasal congestion
Conjunctivitis (also known as red eyes)
Sore throat
Headache
Muscle or joint pain
Different types of skin rash
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Chills or dizziness

Among those who develop symptoms, most (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment. About 15% become seriously ill and require oxygen and 5% become critically ill and need intensive care.

Complications leading to death may include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and septic shock, thromboembolism, and/or multiorgan failure, including injury of the heart, liver or kidneys.

(Source: Q&A on Coronaviruses (COVID-19), World Health Organization.)

What to do

This section provides practical information: advice about staying healthy, mentally as well as physically, and who to phone if you develop symptoms.

Advice

This section provides links to advice about protecting yourself and others, including handwashing and wearing masks, talking about COVID-19 with children and keeping healthy and occupied while in isolation.

Reduce Virus Spread, City of Toronto. "Everyone has a role to play." See also Posters & Graphics. "Use these printable information posters, graphics and questionnaires to help the City share messages about how to stay safe."
What to do if you have symptoms of COVID, Government of Ontario
Prevention and Risks, Government of Canada. See also Awareness Resources (some of which are available in multiple languages)
How to Protect Yourself & Others, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Advice for the Public, World Health Organization (WHO), including Mythbusters

Resources for Families with Children

Families & Children, CDC
COVID-19 Resource List for Families, Toronto Children's Services
Helping your Child Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic, Toronto Public Library

Hand washing

When and How to Wash Your Hands, CDC

Mask wearing

Mandatory Use of Masks or Face Coverings (Orders & Bylaws, City of Toronto). See also Face Masks & Coverings and What the Mask By-law Means for Residents.
Face Coverings and Face Masks, Government of Ontario. See also COVID-19 and Masks, Public Health Ontario
Mask Use: Advice for Community Settings, Government of Canada
Use Masks to Slow the Spread of COVID-19, CDC
When and How to Use Masks, WHO. See also Q&A: Masks.

Coping with stress

Coping with Stress During the 2019-nCoV Outbreak (PDF), WHO
Self-Care and Mental Well-Being, Toronto Public Library

Keeping occupied

Stay, Play & Learn at Home, City of Toronto
EarlyON Child and Family Centre Activities, City of Toronto
Learn at Home, Government of Ontario
38 Ways to Use the Library from Home, Toronto Public Library

Phone Numbers

This section contains phone numbers to call if you develop symptoms, including severe symptoms, or have questions about COVID-19 or City services.

Telehealth Ontario. Call if you develop symptoms.

Telephone: 1-866-797-0000

Toronto Public Health Hotline, 8:30 am – 8 pm. Call if you have questions about COVID-19. Translation is available in multiple languages.

Telephone: 416-338-7600 | TTY: 416-392-0658 | Email: PublicHealth@toronto.ca

311 Toronto. Call if you have questions about City services.

Telephone: 311 | TTY: 416-338-0889

Outside City limits: 416-392-2489.

Emergency Services. Call if you’re having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms.

Telephone: 911

(Source: COVID-19. Contact Information, City of Toronto)

COVID-19 Testing

If you have one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or think you may have been exposed to the virus, take the Ministry of Health’s self-assessment to find out if you should get tested.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to get a free COVID-19 test at your local COVID-19 assessment centre or a participating pharmacy.

To find an assessment centre or participating pharmacy, go to the following pages on the City of Toronto COVID-19 Testing page:

Assessment Centre Locations & Details
Pharmacy Locations & Details

Vaccination

COVID-19: Where to Get Vaccinated, City of Toronto
COVID-19 vaccines for Ontario, Government of Ontario
How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, includes Cancel or change an existing appointment or download your enhanced vaccine certificate with an official QR code, Government of Ontario
Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination, Government of Ontario
Verify Ontario App, Government of Ontario

Closures and Restrictions

This section contains links to what is open and what is closed, including hospitals, schools, colleges and universities.

City of Toronto

See also Orders & Bylaws (City of Toronto) for information on the enforcement of closures, physical distancing, etc. and for self-isolation directives.

Government of Ontario

Public Health Measures and Advice - Find out about the latest public health measures, advice and restrictions in Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen
A plan to safely reopen Ontario and manage COVID-19 for the long-term. See also: Newsroom

Hospitals

Mount Sinai Hospital. COVID-19 Information and Resources
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. COVID-19 (coronavirus): Information & Frequently Asked Questions
UHN. COVID-19 Information at UHN. Check out Visitor Guidelines for updated visitor policy during COVID-19. The page also includes General Visitor FAQ and Visitor Vaccine FAQ.
Unity Health Toronto (St. Joseph's, St. Michael's, Providence). COVID-19 Information - latest news on COVID-19 including information about protecting yourself and patients, clients and residents, outbreaks and more.

School boards, Colleges and Universities

Elementary and Secondary Schools, City of Toronto
Toronto Catholic District School Board. COVID-19 Advisory and Dashboard
Toronto District School Board. Health and Safety (includes Vaccines, Testing, Masks, Ventilation). See also: COVID-19 Advisories and COVID-19 Guidance.
Ontario’s Universities. Partnering in the Fight Against COVID-19

Travel

This section has links for current advisories and restrictions for travel in and out of the country and travel in the city.

Travel Advice, City of Toronto
Travelling during COVID-19, Government of Ontario
Travel Advice and Advisories and Travel, Testing and Borders and Travel Health Notices, Government of Canada. See also: How the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is Affecting Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship and Passport Services
COVID-19 FAQs, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Safety, GO Transit
COVID-19: Preventive Measures, VIA Rail Canada
Healthy Airport, Toronto Pearson Airport
FAQs for International Students about COVID-19, York University

Economic and Social support

This section provides information about economic relief from the City, Provincial and Federal governments for residents and businesses of Toronto as well as resources and support (Toronto) for vulnerable residents and housing help for tenants.

City of Toronto

Government of Ontario

For additional information about the law as it relates to the COVID-19 situation, see COVID-19: Updates on the Law and Legal Services (Steps to Justice: Your guide to law in Ontario).

Government of Canada

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Support for Individuals
Support for Businesses. See also:
- Business Benefits Finder (Business and Industry)
- Managing your Business during COVID-19: Financial Support, Loans and Access to Credit (Business and Industry)
Support for Sectors
After CERB: Transitioning to New Benefits

Updates

This section provides links to City, Provincial and Federal updates about the pandemic and to updates from the World Health Organization and the major U.S. and European public health agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

City of Toronto

COVID-19 Briefings
COVID-19: Official Statements of the Medical Officer of Health and the Fire Chief & General Manager of Emergency Management
Pandemic Data

Government of Ontario

Daily summary of cases in Ontario. Information is updated daily at 10:30 a.m.
Status of COVID-19 Cases in Long-term Care Homes

Government of Canada

Current Situation (use Google Chrome to view)
Outbreak Update

Additional Updates

Tracking, Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
Weekly Epidemiological Update and Weekly Operational Update, World Health Organization
COVID-19 Situation Update Worldwide, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
COVID-19: What's New, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

General Resources

This section provides links to sources of general information about COVID-19.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19
City of Toronto, COVID-19
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, COVID-19 Pandemic
Government of Canada, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, Coronavirus Resource Center
The National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, Updates on COVID-19
Public Health Ontario, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Ryerson Social Media Lab. Ted Rogers School of Management, COVID19MISINFO.ORG (use Google Chrome to view)
Statistics Canada, COVID-19: A Data Perspective (includes invitation to participate in surveys on the impacts of COVID-19)
University of Toronto Libraries, How Can I Spot Misinformation about the Coronavirus and COVID-19?
University of Toronto Libraries, Gerstein Science Information Centre, COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) Information Guide
University of Toronto Libraries, Gerstein Science Information Centre, Indigenous COVID-19 Resources, in Indigenous Health Resources
World Health Organization, Coronavirus
World Health Organization, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public: Mythbusters

COVID-19 Deaf and Disability Community Resources

An additional page is available for online resources related to COVID-19 from organizations, mostly in the Toronto area, supporting people who are deaf and people with disabilities. It will be updated as more resources are made available.

Visit the COVID-19 Deaf and Disability Community Resources page, Toronto Public Library

Download Covid-19 Deaf and Disability Community Resources (Toronto Area) (PDF, updated May 15, 2020).

COVID-19 2SLGBTQ+ Community Resources

An additional page is available for online resources related to COVID-19 from organizations, mostly in the Toronto area, supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community. It will be updated as more information is made available.

Visit the COVID-19 2SLGBTQ+ Community Resources page, Toronto Public Library

Download COVID-19 2SLGBTQ+ Community Resources (Toronto Area) (PDF, updated June 2021).

Last updated February 16, 2022

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