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?
Contact tracing, notification, and follow up is a process that is used to identify, educate and support individuals who have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for an infection. These individuals are at a higher risk of testing positive for that infection. 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.
Please note:
Public Health Ontario does not contact individuals by email or text message about potential COVID-19 exposure or testing results.
A text message phishing scam to individuals’ cell phones is using PHO email addresses. Do not respond to any text message or email claiming to be from PHO or from an email address or phone number associated with our organization.
For more information about phishing see the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre page.
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.
See the COVID-19 Public Resources for more information.
PHO Grand Rounds: COVID-19 and Substance Use – Highlighting New Data and the Perspectives of People with Lived Experience
In this session, Regan Murray provides an overview of opioid-related deaths in Ontario during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Claire Rykelyk-Huizen and Michael Nurse share findings from a consultation on the impacts of COVID-19 based on interviews with people who use substances, family and friends, harm reduction workers and people providing peer support services.
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