Infection Prevention & Control Information for Long-Term Care Homes & Retirement Homes

Toronto Public Health (TPH) works with health care professionals to manage outbreaks and apply effective public health strategies to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

For case and outbreak definitions, please refer to the Ontario Public Health Standards.

Please subscribe to TPH’s Communiqué e-newsletter to receive regular updates.

Reporting a Respiratory Outbreak

To report a suspected or confirmed respiratory outbreak:

Business Hours (weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.):

  • Communicable Disease Liaison Unit (CDLU) facilities: contact your CDLU Liaison directly or the CDLU General Line: 416-338-2100 or CDLU@toronto.ca
  • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes Congregate Team (LRCT): send an email to LRCT@toronto.ca

After Hours (weekdays after 4:30 p.m., weekends and statutory holidays):

  • Call 3-1-1 or 416-392-CITY (2489) and ask for the on-call Communicable Diseases Control (CDC) Manager
  • The LRCT@toronto.ca mailbox will not be monitored during after hours from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. on weekends or on statutory holidays. Messages directed to this mailbox will be actioned on the next business day.

Managing a Respiratory Outbreak

Specimen Collecting/Testing

Signage

Influenza

Reporting an Enteric (Gastroenteritis) Outbreak

To report a suspected or confirmed enteric outbreak:

Business Hours (weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.):

  • Communicable Disease Liaison Unit (CDLU) facilities: contact your CDLU Liaison directly or the CDLU General Line: 416-338-2100 or CDLU@toronto.ca
  • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes Congregate Team (LRCT): send an email to LRCT@toronto.ca

After Hours (weekdays after 4:30 p.m, weekends and statutory holidays.):

  • Call 3-1-1 or 416-392-CITY (2489) and ask for the on-call Communicable Diseases Control (CDC) Manager
  • The LRCT@toronto.ca mailbox will not be monitored during after hours from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. on weekends or on statutory holidays. Messages directed to this mailbox will be actioned on the next business day.

Managing an Enteric (Gastroenteritis) Outbreak

Specimen Collecting/Testing

Signage

Norovirus

C-Difficile

TPH has developed the following toolkit to help support and prepare long-term care and retirement homes in the event of an outbreak.

The content and purpose of these activities and tools is driven by the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care, Ontario Public Health Standards, and Public Health Ontario guidance and recommendations.

If you have any questions or considerations relating to this toolkit or accessibility, please email LRCT@toronto.ca.

If you would like to provide feedback on any of the tools, please take our survey.