COVID‑19 testing and treatment

You are eligible for publicly-funded COVID-19 testing if you have COVID‑19 symptoms and belong to any of the following groups:

• people aged 65 years of age and older
• people aged 18 years of age and older who have at least one condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease
• people who are immunocompromised
• residents and patients in certain high-risk settings including hospitals and congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals (for example, in long-term care and other specific populations and settings)
• people in the context of suspected or confirmed outbreaks, as directed by the local public health unit

If you develop symptoms and you are eligible for a publicly-funded test, we recommend you contact your primary care provider or pharmacist to find out about test availability and to arrange to take a test.

If you are unsure if you are eligible for a PCR test, speak with your health care provider.

Read the Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID‑19 in Ontario to learn more.

Getting your PCR test results

• Depending on the testing location, you may be able to check your results online.
• If you are not able to find your test results online, contact the testing location or the health care provider who ordered the test to learn how to get your results.

Positive test result

• If you get a positive result on a COVID‑19 test, you should stay home when sick, except to get health care and follow current guidance on how long to stay home and self-isolate and on additional precautions to take. If you test positive on a rapid antigen test, you do not need a PCR or rapid molecular test to confirm your result, unless directed by a health care provider.
• Antiviral treatments are available for those eligible with symptoms and a positive test result (molecular or rapid antigen test) (see eligibility below). Find out more about antiviral treatment options or talk to your health care provider.
• If you develop severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911 and inform them that you have tested positive for COVID‑19.

Negative test result

• If you test negative on a rapid antigen test, it is less likely that you have COVID‑19. It is possible to receive a false negative result using a rapid antigen test (that is, testing negative even though infected), particularly early in COVID‑19 infection. If you repeat testing 24–48 hours after your first negative test and test negative again, you can be more confident that you do not have a COVID-19 infection.
• If you test negative on a molecular test (rapid molecular or PCR), you can be confident that you do not have COVID-19 infection.
• You should still follow current guidance on how long to stay home and self-isolate and on additional precautions to take when you are sick.
• If you were exposed to a person with COVID‑19 infection, find out what to do next.

Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 (including Paxlovid and Remdesivir) can prevent serious illness if you take them in the first few days after symptoms start.

A physician, nurse practitioner or participating pharmacist may prescribe you antiviral treatment if you:

• have symptoms and test positive for COVID-19 (positive PCR or rapid antigen test)
• are at increased risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 because you are either:
  • 65 years of age or older (regardless of vaccine status and any other risk factors)
  • Immunocompromised (regardless of vaccine status or prior COVID-19 infections), for example:
    • recipient of solid organ transplant
    • treatment for a malignant hematologic condition
    • bone marrow–, stem cell transplant–, or transplant-related immunosuppressant use
    • receipt of anti-CD20 drugs or B cell– depleting drugs (such as rituximab) in the past 2 years
    • severe primary immunodeficiencies
    • treatment for cancer, including solid tumours
    • treatment with significantly immunosuppressing drugs (for example, a biologic in the past 3 months, oral immune-suppressing medication in the past months, oral steroid [20 mg/day of prednisone equivalent taken on an ongoing basis] in the past month, or immune-suppressing infusion or injection in the past 3 months)
    • advanced HIV infection (treated or untreated)
    • moderate primary immunodeficiencies
    • renal conditions (such as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, glomerulonephritis and dispensing of a steroid, eGFR<15mL/min/1.73m²)
  • At increased risk to due to other medical conditions or risk factors, for example:
    • diabetes treated with insulin
    • severe or end-stage lung condition (for example, cystic fibrosis, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma)
    • rare blood and genetic disorder such as, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, urea cycle defects
    • severe intellectual or developmental disability

Antiviral treatments are only used to prevent serious outcomes and will not make you feel better faster.

Your health care provider will determine if, and which treatment (Paxlovid or Remdesivir) is right for you based on:

• which medications you currently take
• what underlying medical conditions you have

Transplant recipients

If you are a transplant recipient and have tested positive for COVID-19, please contact your transplant centre to ensure you receive the appropriate therapeutics.

Contact Health811

If you are having difficulty accessing care, contact Health811 by phone at 811 or visit Health811 to chat online with a nurse who will assess your eligibility to obtain an antiviral prescription from a virtual clinic.

Call 911 or go to emergency

If you develop severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911 or go to the emergency department.

Paxlovid

Paxlovid is an antiviral medication taken by mouth at home which must begin within 5 days of the start of symptoms.

Paxlovid is known to interact with many medications and is linked to side effects. Discuss with your health care provider:

• any medications you are taking (including any over the counter medications, natural health products, vitamins, minerals, or supplements)
• any medical conditions or allergies you have
• if you have liver or kidney disease
• if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or using hormonal birth control (such as birth control pills or patches)

(For more information, visit the Health Canada’s Paxlovid Consumer Information Summary.)

Paxlovid is covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) (including OHIP+ and Trillium Drug Benefit) for eligible adults (18+) who are ODB-eligible and who:

• are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes and meet the clinical criteria as specific on the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary here
• have a prescription
• have COVID-19 symptoms
• have a positive COVID-19 test
• obtain Paxlovid from an Ontario pharmacy

If you are not eligible for Ontario Drug Benefit coverage, the cost may be covered by your private insurance. You can apply for the Trillium Drug Program if you do not have an insurance plan that pays for 100% of your drug costs and spend about 4% or more of your after-tax household income on prescription-drug costs.

Paxlovid is also covered under the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program for eligible First Nations and Inuit individuals.

Remdesivir

Remdesivir is a free, antiviral medication that is administered intravenously (IV) through Ontario Health atHome and certain other settings. Treatment must begin within 7 days of the start of symptoms and requires a referral from a physician (doctor) or nurse practitioner.

Remdesivir is only prescribed to people who cannot take Paxlovid because they either:

• are on certain medications
• have certain medical conditions
• have had symptoms longer than 5 days

How to get Remdesivir

1. Your doctor or nurse practitioner must complete the appropriate referral form(s) and submit to Ontario Health atHome near you.
2. A care coordinator from Ontario Health atHome will follow up with you directly.
3. In most cases, you will receive infusions at a community nursing clinic. At-home service may be provided for homebound patients.

Antiviral treatments are not a replacement for vaccination or taking other recommended precautions.

Learn where to get vaccinated and book an appointment today.

Make a plan in case you get sick

If you do not have symptoms but are at increased risk of severe COVID‑19, talk to your primary care provider or pharmacist in advance of potential COVID-19 infection to determine:

• your treatment options
• how to access treatment
• if you need to have bloodwork done
• if any changes to your usual medications will be needed

Keep rapid antigen tests on hand and check where your closest PCR testing location is.

For healthcare providers and high-risk settings

Some healthcare providers (such as primary care providers and pharmacists) can order rapid antigen tests through the Provincial Antigen Testing Program for use on patients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection who would be eligible for COVID-19 treatment if they tested positive.

Long-term care homes

Long-term care homes and some congregate living settings can also order rapid antigen tests for use to support outbreak prevention and management, consistent with relevant provincial guidance or at the discretion of public health unit staff.

Molecular testing

Hospitals, long-term care homes, and some congregate living settings will also provide access to molecular testing, such as rapid molecular tests or lab-based molecular tests (PCR) for patients when clinically indicated and to support outbreak prevention and management.

Find additional resources (including clinical guidance) for COVID-19 treatments through Ontario Health.