Infection Control Resources and Tools

Originally posted Mar 10, 2020. Last updated June 15, 2022 *NEW*

We have created a list of infection prevention and control tools and resources. New and updated resources will be added to the top of each list as they become available.

IPAC shareables

• #StoptheSpread campaign communications toolkit | OHA, October 14, 2020
• Sharables for the COVID Alert App | Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, July 31, 2020

Public Health Infection Prevention and Control resources

Public Health Ontario and other organizations have provided Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) resources to help build capacity in primary care:

Personal Protection 

• PHO IPAC Recommendations for Use of PPE for Care of Individuals With Suspect or Confirmed COVID-19 | PHO Ontario, June 2022 *NEW*
• PHO Infection Prevention and Control Measures Based on COVID-19 Transmission Risks in Health Care Settings | April 2022 *NEW*
• Infection Prevention and Control at Work: Basic Awareness Training (online module) | PSHSA, February 12, 2021
• Medical Isolation Gowns in Health Care, PHO, July 7, 2020
• Optimizing Supply of PPE during the COVID-19 Pandemic | Ontario Health, May 10, 2020
• Cleaning & Storing Face Shield *  | Unity Health Toronto, April 24, 2020
• Precautions when working in healthcare settings | PSHSA
• Putting on PPE
  • Putting on Full PPE (video)  | PHO
  • PPE conservation Strategies (video) | North York General Hospital
  • PDF Summary
• Taking Off PPE (video) | PHO
• Updated IPAC measures | PHO, April 6, 2020
• PPE use during COVID-19 | Ontario Health, March 25, 2020
• OMA - Recommendations for use of PPE | OMA, March 17, 2020
• Online education- infection prevention and control | PHO (weblink)

Clinical Office Practices 

• Ontario Guide to Developing Your COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan | Government of Ontario, April 2022
• PHO COVID-19 Workplace Resources | PHO, 2022
• Cleaning & Disinfection for Public Settings | PHO, April 2022
• COVID-19 Safety Checklist for Workplaces | Government of Ontario, March 2022
• Air Quality Checks - PHO Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems in Buildings and COVID-19 | PHO. March 2021 
• Interim Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern for Health Care Settings | PHO, Apr 2021
  • Community Based Clinical Practices and Infection Prevention and Control – A review and a new beginning for 2021 and beyond (Webinar slide deck) | PHO & OMA, Feb 17, 2021
• COVID-19 Guidance: Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting | Ministry of Health, Revised Nov 9, 2020
• IPAC Assessment for Primary Care, Specialty and Walk-in Clinics during COVID-19 | Public Health Ontario, October 21, 2020 
• COVID-19 IPAC Fundamentals Training, PHO
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) – Online Learning, PHO
• COVID-19 Safety Plan (MOH template)* | Village FHT, July 2020
• Health and Safety Guidance during COVID-19 for primary care employers | PSHSA
• Environmental Cleaning And Disinfectants For Physicians’ Offices | BC Ministry of Health 
• Protecting Patients and Physicians during the Pandemic (resources) | CFPC
• Protecting Patients and Physicians during the Pandemic (webinar recording) | CFPC, April 9, 2020
• IPAC department | PHO (weblink)
• Resources for clinical office practice | PHO (weblink)
• Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning for Prevention and Control of Infections in Health Care Settings (PDF) | PHO (weblink)
• Resources related to prevention of IPAC lapses | PHO (weblink)
• Online education - reprocessing | PHO (weblink)
• Infection Prevention and Control | Public Health Agency of Canada 

For general and public-facing infection recommendations, see the COVID-19 information for Patients, Caregivers and the Public page

Screening Tools  *NEW*

Guidance

• Ontario Screening for Covid-19 Guidance for Employers (Protecting Workers) | Government of Ontario, April 25, 2022
• PHO Environmental Scan and Rapid Review of COVID-19 Symptom Screening Tools in the Post-vaccination Era | PHO, Aug 2021
• Reference Document For COVID-19 Symptoms | Ministry of Health, Revised January 4, 2022
• Vaccine screening and consent form | MOH, January 23, 2021
• Guidance on the navigation of patients with influenza-like illness | Ontario Health, October 6, 2021
• Reference Document For COVID-19 Symptoms | Ministry of Health, Revised September 21, 2020
• Reference Document For COVID-19 Symptoms | Ministry of Health, Revised August 6, 2020
• COVID-19 Patient Screening Guidance Document | MOH, Revised June 11, 2020
• COVID-19 Patient Screening Guidance Document | MOH, May 17, 2020
• Reference Document For COVID-19 Symptoms | Ministry of Health, Revised May 25, 2020
• Reference Document For COVID-19 Symptoms | Ministry of Health, Revised May 14, 2020
• Reference Document For COVID-19 Symptoms | Ministry of Health, Revised May 11, 2020
• COVID-19 Patient Screening Guidance Document | MOH, May 2, 2020
• The Ministry has developed two documents that can be used to assist with COVID-19 screening. The first is the COVID-19 Symptoms document that can be a resource for partners who are looking for an up-to-date symptoms list. The second is a Patient Screening Guidance document that can be used to help screen people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. They are available in English and French on the Ministry’s website and will be updated as the situation evolves. | Ontario Ministry of Health

EMR Screening Forms & Toolbars

• Telus PS Toolbar | Dr. Adam Stewart, Central Hastings FHT/FHO
• Telus PS & OSCAR | eCE, Updated April 22, 2020
• P&P | Hamilton FHT
  • Instructions on how to import here
• Accuro
  • The form has been published to the Accuro database; search for "Coronavirus COVID-19 Screening April22202" - created by eCE 

Other Screening tools

• COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire* | City of Kawartha Lakes FHT, October 20, 2021
• COVID-19 Screening Protocol* | Southlake Academic FHT, May 11, 2020
• COVID-19 Screening Protocol (flowchart)* | Powassan & Area FHT, April 2, 2020
• COVID-19 Acute Infectious Illness Screening Tool (PDF) | North York FHT, March 18, 2020

Testing

• Provincial Testing Guidance Update | MOH, Revised August 25, 2021
• COVID-19 Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance | MOH, Revised September 14, 2021
• A Quick Reference of Key Information on Testing and Primary Care | OH, September 29, 2021
• Provincial Antigen Screening Program - Intake Portal | Ministry of Health, May 13, 2021
• COVID-19 Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance | MOH, Revised March 5, 2021
• Provincial Testing Guidance Update | MOH, Revised March 5, 2021
• Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance| MOH, Revised February 18, 2021
• Provincial Testing Guidance Update | MOH, February 17, 2021
• Sample Medical Directive #028 - Collection and Ordering of Nasopharyngeal Swabs and Deep Nasal Swabs for Testing of COVID-19* | Thames Valley FHT, Dec 2020
• Sample Medical Directive #028 - Implementer Performance Readiness* | Thames Valley FHT, Dec 2020
• Provincial Testing Guidance Update | MOH, August 14, 2020
• Provincial Testing Guidance Update | MOH, August 6, 2020
• Quick Reference Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance | MOH, July 29, 2020
• Additional direction on testing for COVID-19- English and French | MOH, May 24, 2020
• Provincial Testing Guidance Update | MOH, May 14, 2020
• Provincial Testing Guidance Update | MOH, May 2, 2020
• Quick Reference: Public Health Guidance on Testing and Clearance | MOH, May 2, 2020
• COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance Update| Ministry of Health, April 15, 2020
• COVID-19 Testing Guidance Update | Ministry of Health, April 8, 2020

Other Resources

• PHO FAQ on IPAC Recommendations for Use of PPE in Health Care Settings | PHO, June 2022 *NEW*
• New Emergency Order - Working at home and masking/physical distancing rules | McDonald HR Law, January 15, 2021
• COVID-19 Resource List | COVID-19 CoP for Ontario Family Physicians
• COVID-19 Community Service Provider Resources | Toronto Region COVID-19 Mental Health and Addictions Working Group, EEnet
  • IPAC Q&A for community settings - weekly webinar series | CAMH IPAC specialist Dr. Renee Logan
• Prince Edward County COVID-19 Assessment Centre PROPOSAL* | Prince Edward FHT & Quinte Health Care, March 31, 2020
• Considerations in the use of homemade masks to protect against COVID-19 | Health Canada
• Health Canada - Optimizing the use of masks and respirators during the COVID-19 outbreak
• Guidance N95 Beyond Shelf Life | MOH, February 27, 2020
• North York Toronto Health Partners COVID-19 Resources 
• General resources and updates from public health units

Research

• COVID-19 Rapid Reviews | Alberta College of Family Physicians, CFPC and PEER

  • COVID-19 Bottom Line Summary (PDF) | May 8, 2020
  • Is there a difference between mask types in preventing viral respiratory infections for healthcare workers? (EN) (FR) | April 20, 2020
  • Covert data on COVID-19- Evidence for asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 (EN) (FR) | April 14, 2020

Some resources have restricted access: * Members-only resources, ** Triad-only resources

Return to: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Disclaimer: The information in this resource centre represents general guidance developed by AFHTO and their partners, gathered through a rapid, non-systematic scan of relevant and valuable guidelines with an intent to support you in a timely fashion. The information reflects best knowledge at the time of writing and is subject to revision based on rapidly changing circumstances and conditions. As new best practice evidence emerges, recommendations may evolve. The resources above should be considered supplementary guidance and are not meant to replace clinical judgement or organizational directives.