COVID-19 Testing

Last updated: June 6, 2022 at 1:07 p.m.

If you have any symptoms (even if mild) and are at higher risk of severe illness: seek testing and care immediately. You may benefit from available therapies to prevent severe illness. Find out more about treatment and if you’re eligible.

 

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or were exposed to the COVID-19 virus, follow these steps to take care of yourself and protect others:

  1. Confirm if you need to isolate
  2. Get assessed for treatment or tested if you are eligible
  3. Inform others of your exposure

Note: OHIP coverage is not needed for COVID-19 assessment or testing and treatment is free of charge. Toronto Public Health offices are not assessment centres. COVID-19 testing is not provided at Toronto Public Health offices.

Visit the Ministry of Health’s website on more information on COVID-19 testing and testing locations, including how to get your test results.

Indigenous residents can receive integrated COVID-19 testing (including case management, contact tracing, outreach supports, and referrals) at Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong and Anishnawbe Health Toronto’s mobile healing unit which are Indigenous-led COVID-19 assessment and testing centres, located in Midtown Toronto and Downtown Toronto, respectively.

Assessment Centre
 Details
Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong (Place of Healthy Breathing)

Comprehensive First Nations, Inuit and Métis specific COVID-19 response program

 Address: 22 Vaughan Rd.

Hours:

  • Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Telephone: 416-654-4184

Age Restrictions: None

This clinic is designed to address barriers in culturally safe access for First Nations, Inuit and Métis (FNIM); or people who live with and, or, work closely with FNIM people.

To book an appointment or make a referral please call 416-654-4184 or email appointments@healthybreathing.co.

More information.
Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mobile Healing Team

Photo of Anishnawbe Health Team Mobile Healing Bus

 Locations, dates and hours:

For questions please call 416-920-2605 x 269

Who should use a Rapid Antigen Test:

Ontario is distributing free rapid antigen tests to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. To learn more about when a rapid antigen test  should be used, see the Ontario government factsheet on Rapid Antigen Testing.

If you are receiving rapid antigen tests  as part of frequent screen testing (asymptomatic testing one or more times per week), you can resume screening using rapid antigen tests 30 days after a confirmed COVID-19 infection (confirmed with a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test).

How to use a Rapid Antigen Test:

Rapid Antigen Tests are less likely to pick up the COVID-19 Omicron strain. When the cheeks, back of the tongue or throat and nostrils are also swabbed, the rapid antigen tests  are better at finding Omicron.

Learn more on how to collect a sample for a rapid antigen test or review the video instructions for adults and children.

PCR Tests

Who should use a PCR test:

Visit the Ministry of Health’s website for information on who is eligible for PCR testing.

It is not recommended to get a PCR test if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If you develop symptoms, you must self-isolate, and get a PCR test if you are eligible.

If you have had a confirmed COVID-19 infection within the past 90 days and develop new COVID-19 symptoms, PCR testing is recommended if you are eligible.

Based on the results of your PCR or Rapid Antigen Test, do the following:

Positive PCR

  • You have COVID-19. Visit our page for people who have COVID-19 to find out how long you will need to self-isolate for and what you need to do to prevent further spread.

Negative PCR

  • You likely do not have COVID-19 and you can end self-isolation when your symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (48 hours for nausea, diarrhea, or stomach pain). Your household members can also stop self-isolating , as long as they do not have symptoms of COVID-19.

Positive Rapid Antigen Test

  • You most likely have COVID-19. Visit our page for people who have COVID-19 to find out how long you will need to self-isolate for and what you need to do to prevent further spread.. Positive rapid antigen tests do NOT need to be confirmed by PCR/rapid molecular test and do not need to be reported to the public health unit.

Negative Rapid Antigen Test

  • If you have COVID-19 symptoms, a single negative rapid antigen  test does not mean that you do not have COVID-19 infection.
  • If you have COVID-19 symptoms and two consecutive rapid antigen tests, separated by 24-48 hours, are both negative, it is less likely you have a COVID-19 infection. Self-isolate until you no longer have fever and your symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms). In this situation, your household members may also discontinue self-isolation, as long as they are asymptomatic.

Note: If you are a close contact of a person with COVID-19 , you must follow What To Do If You Are a Close Contact guidance.

Information about returning to Canada from abroad, travelling internationally and travelling within Canada can be found on the Government of Canada website.

Children are only to be tested at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre if they meet the ministry of health’s eligibility criteria for molecular testing. All children/students are to complete the TPH COVID-19 Screening for Students/Childcare before entering the childcare/JK-12 school setting, and to follow the advice set out in the document. They may have access to symptom based Rapid Antigen Tests through their child care/school setting. Based on supply, students who have symptoms may also have PCR take home tests made available to them through their school. Parents can refer to What to do if your child has COVID-19 fact sheet for more information.