COVID-19 Contact Tracing Initiative

Ontario’s local public health units (PHUs) are responsible for COVID-19 contact tracing and case management. Ontario residents who have COVID-19 are contacted by their local public health unit to identify persons they were in contact with and could have transmitted the virus to, and supported throughout their self-isolation period. Public health units also follow up with contacts of COVID-19 cases to check-in about symptoms and to provide additional supports as needed.

Visit our COVID-19 webpage for more information about COVID-19.

What is the COVID-19 Contact Tracing Initiative?

The COVID -19 Contact Tracing Initiative is a collaboration between Public Health Ontario, the Ministry of Health and the federal government, to help support the efforts of our local public health units. As the situation changes across the province some PHUs may request additional help in their notification of contacts of COVID-19 and the follow up with these contacts, as well as data entry.

What is contact tracing?

Contact tracing, notification, and follow up is a process that is used to identify, educate and monitor individuals who have had close contact with someone who is infected with a virus. These individuals are at a higher risk of becoming infected and sharing the virus with others. Contact tracing can help individuals who have been in contact with a case of COVID-19 understand their risk and limit further spread of the virus.