COVID-19 Updates
COVID-19 is one of the biggest public health crisis Canada has ever faced. Lives are at stake- including yours and your loved one’s.
FCO is here to help. In our COVID-19 section, you can find our communication updates, general information about COVID-19, & resources to help you navigate this crisis.
COVID-19 Long-Term Care Communications
2020
January 31, 2020 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Fact Guidance for Long-Term Care
February 11, 2020 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Fact Guidance for Long-Term Care - Version 2
March 11, 2020
- Memo: COVID-19 Active Screening from the Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations of Health
- Statement: Ontario Enhancing COVID-19 Protections for Long-Term Care Residents, Families and Staff
March 13, 2020
- Case Definition: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Chief Medical Officer of Health Memo- COVID-19 Updates: Visitors (PDF)
March 16, 2020
March 19, 2020
- COVID-19 Guidance: LTC Homes (Amended) (PDF)
- FAQs: Ontario Enhancing COVID-19 Protections for Long-Term Care for Residents, Families and Staff
- Memo: Minister's Memo: 2019 Application for Long-Term Care Home Development – Deadline Extension
- Memo: CMOH Memo: Health Worker Illness and Return to Work
March 20, 2020
- Memo: Ministry of Long-Term Care Memo Amendments to Ontario Regulation 79/10
- QAs: Urgent Amendments to Ontario Regulation 79/10
March 23, 2020
- Policy: COVID-19 Emergency Measures
- Memo: Long-term care home placements for patients in hospitals memo
- Memo: Call for Applications LTC Development: Deadline Extension Memo
- FAQs: Call for Applications LTC Development: Deadline Extension FAQs
- Directive: CMOH Directive for long-term care homes
- Emergency Order: Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act - Ontario Regulation 79/10 - Work deployment measures in long-term care homes
March 24, 2020
- Memo: ADM Memo: Amendments to Ontario Regulation 79/10 under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 related to the COVID-19 Pandemic – Admissions and Discharge
- FAQs: Amendments to Ontario Regulation 79/10 under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 related to the COVID-19 Pandemic – Admissions and Discharge
- News Release: Ontario Implements Enhanced Measures to Protect the Safety of Residents in Long-Term Care Homes
- Statement: Two Deaths in Ontario Long-Term Care Homes Related to COVID-19
- Amendments to Ontario Regulation 79/10 – Admissions and Discharge
March 26, 2020
- FAQs: Call for Applications LTC Development: Deadline Extension FAQs
- MOH ADM Letter: General approval under subsection 4(2) of the Public Hospitals Act for COVID-19 capacity expansion
- MOH ADM Letter: Hospital Classifications under s. 32.1(1) of the Public Hospitals Act during the COVID-19 emergency
March 27, 2020
- Memo: CMOH Memo Regarding Non-Health Care Settings
- Emergency Order issued – funds, resources and flexibility to support staffing and protect residents
March 28, 2020
- Order: Minister's Order: PPE: Supplies and Equipment Data Collection Sheet
- Memo: Ministry of Health, Memo: Update on COVID-19 Preparations: Supplies and Equipment
- Order: Ministry of Health, Minister's Order: Requirement to provide information respecting supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- News Release: Ontario Taking Emergency Measures to Support Long-Term Care Homes During COVID-19
March 30, 2020
- CMOH Directive: COVID-19 Directive #3 - More aggressive screening
- Minister's Order: PPE: Online Survey and How-to Guide
- News Release: Ontario Protecting Seniors During the COVID-19 Outbreak
March 31, 2020
- MOH/MLTC/OH Memo: Use of Alternate Health Facilities
- COVID-19 Guidance: Use of Alternate Health Facilities
April 1, 2020
- CMOH: COVID-19 Directive #3 for Long-Term Care Homes under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007
- CMOH: COVID-19 Directive #1 for Health Care Providers and Health Care Entities
- CMOH: COVID-19 Directive #4 for Ambulance Services and Paramedics under the Ambulance Act
- Minister's Letter: 2020 Funding Increases
April 2, 2020
- COVID-19 Outbreak Guidance for Long-Term Care Homes (LTCH)
- CMOH Memo to Stakeholders: Update on COVID-19 Preparations and Actions
- MOH/MLTC/OH Memo: Hotels and Retirement Homes (PDF)
- COVID-19 Guidance: Use of Hotels and Retirement Homes
- COVID-19 PPE Survey Guide
March 18, 2020
- COVID-19 Screening Tool for Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes
- CMOH/MOH/OH Memo: Update on COVID-19 Preparations and Actions
April 3, 2020
- Memo: Minister's Memo: Long-Term Care Capacity During COVID-19
- Temporary Emergency Long-Term Care Home Capacity Form
- Temporary Emergency Long-Term Care Home Capacity Questions and Answers
April 6, 2020
April 7, 2020
- Memo: Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario to Long-Term Care Executive Directors and Administrators re Managing Resident Deaths in Long-Term Care Orientation
- Who should be on the Managing Resident Death in Long-Term Care Team
April 8, 2020
- CMOH/MOH/OH Memo: Follow-up on COVID-19 Preparations and Actions (PDF)
- COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance - Updated
- Directive: COVID-19: Directive #3 for Long-Term Care Homes under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 (PDF)
- Minister's Letter: Emergency Funding to the Long-Term Care Home Sector
April 15, 2020
- COVID-19 Action Plan: Long-Term Care Homes
- News Release: Ontario Taking Emergency Measures to Support Long-Term Care Homes During COVID-19
- News Release: Ontario Ramping Up Protection for Long-Term Care Residents
- COVID-19 Outbreak Guidance for Long-Term Care Homes (LTCH)
April 23, 2020
April 25, 2020
- Minister's Directive: COVID-19: Supporting Long-Term Care Homes
- Memo: Minister's Directive: Supporting Long-Term Care Homes
- News Release: Ontario Supporting Frontline Heroes of COVID-19 with Pandemic Pay
- FAQS: Minister's Directive
April 26, 2020
April 29, 2020
May 4, 2020
May 12, 2020
May 13, 2020
- News Release: Ontario Takes Steps to Better Protect Long-Term Care Residents and Staff During the COVID-19 Outbreak
May 14, 2020
- COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance - Updated
May 19, 2020
June 11, 2020
- News Release: Ontario to Resume Family Visits in Long-Term Care Homes, Retirement Homes, and Other Residential Care Settings
- Resuming Visits in Long-Term Care Homes
- COVID-19 Patient Screening Guidance Document
June 16, 2020
- FAQs: Directive #3 Update: Long-Term Care Visitors and Admissions
- Compassionate care visits
- Outdoor visits with residents: a checklist for homes
- Guide for outdoor visits
July 15, 2020
- Update to Visits at Long-Term Care Homes
- FAQs: Update to Visits at Long-Term Care Homes
- Compassionate care visits
- Indoor visits with residents: a checklist for homes
- Guide for indoor visits
July 16, 2020
July 17, 2020
- Amendments to Emergency Order O. Reg. 95/20, under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act
- Ontario Driving Development of New Long-Term Care Homes (Modernized Funding Model)
September 2, 2020
- COVID-19 Visiting Policy
- FAQs: COVID-19 Visiting Policy
- Guide for visits
- Limited visits during a COVID-19 outbreak
- Visits with residents: a checklist for homes
September 29, 2020
October 5, 2020
- COVID-19: Visiting long-term care homes
- COVID-19: Long-term care homes in areas with visitor restrictions
October 14, 2020
- COVID-19: Long-term care homes in areas with visitor restrictions
- Directive: COVID-19: Directive #3 for Long-Term Care Homes under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 (PDF)
October 17, 2020
November 22, 2020
2021
January 8, 2021
February 16, 2021
March 1, 2021
- COVID-19 Vaccine Promotion Toolkit
April 30, 2021
May 4, 2021
- COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes in Ontario
- COVID-19 fact sheet: Communal dining, indoor activities and social gatherings
May 21, 2021
- COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes in Ontario
- COVID-19: visiting long-term care homes
- Directive: COVID-19: Directive #3 for Long-Term Care Homes under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 (PDF)
- Minister's Directive: COVID-19: Long-term care home surveillance testing and access to homes
May 31, 2021
June 3, 2021
- COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes in Ontario
- COVID-19: visiting long-term care homes
- Minister's Directive: COVID-19: Long-term care home surveillance testing and access to homes
June 8, 2021
- COVID-19 Vaccine Promotion Toolkit
The toolkit is for people to use to boost vaccination rates and save lives by engaging with their colleagues and community on vaccine safety.
The kit contains a welcome letter, posters, fact sheets, tips for holding effective conversations, an FAQ, and sample Facebook and Twitter posts that users can share on their social networks. The toolkit is available in English, French and 10 other languages:
Download (ZIP format)
- English (21 MB)
- French (22 MB)
- Arabic (22 MB)
- Chinese (simplified) (22 MB)
- Chinese (traditional) (22 MB)
- Hindi (22 MB)
June 29, 2021
- COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes in Ontario
- COVID-19: Information for visitors to long-term care homes
- Minister's Directive: COVID-19: Long-term care home surveillance testing and access to homes
July 16, 2021
- COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes in Ontario
- Minister's directive: COVID-19: Long-term care home surveillance testing and access to homes
July 22, 2021
September 3, 2021
September 10, 2021
September 13, 2021
October 1, 2021
- Minister’s Directive: Long-term care home COVID-19 immunization policy
- COVID-19 guidance document for long-term care homes in Ontario
November 4, 2021
December 15, 2021
December 16, 2021
December 21, 2021
December 23, 2021
2022
January 10, 2022
January 28, 2022
February 10, 2022
February 25, 2022
March 15, 2022
March 18, 2022
Helpline for caregivers in distress
If you are a caregiver and are in need of support, you can contact theOntario Caregiver Helpline: 1-833-416-2273 (CARE).
The only resource of its kind in Ontario, the helpline is available to all caregivers – regardless of age, diagnosis or where they live. It provides 24/7 support because caregiving is not a 9-5 job. The Live Chat is also available 7am – 9pm (Mon – Fri).
The Ontario Caregiver Helpline is answered by professional Community Resource Specialists in English and French. Helpline representatives have been trained by caregivers to understand the unique needs of caregivers.