Protect Yourself and Others

For general COVID-19 Vaccine information:
- Call Provincial Vaccine Info Line at 1-888-999-6488 (TTY 1-866-797-0007)
- Ask your health care provider
- Book appointment with SHN to speak with a doctor online or call 416-438-2911 ext. 5738
- Book appointment with Sick Kids Hospital to speak with a pediatric nurse about COVID-19 vaccines for youth.
For COVID-19 Vaccine booking information:
Call 905-540-5250

Protect yourself from respiratory illness
- Get your flu shot and stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination
- Wash your hands often with soap & water or use hand sanitizer
- Follow proper respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose
- Wear a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in public indoor settings
- Clean & disinfect surfaces & shared items
- Screen for symptoms of respiratory illness daily & stay home when you are sick
Respiratory infections can be caused by different viruses and bacteria and can cause illness along the respiratory tract (e.g., nose, mouth, airways and lungs). They include viruses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19, and bacteria like pertussis. Respiratory infections can cause illness beyond the respiratory system, and can make people very sick, especially those with weakened immune systems and seniors, infants and young children, and people who are pregnant. They can spread easily and their spread often follows seasonal patterns, with more people becoming sick with respiratory infections in the fall and winter.
Respiratory illnesses, like the common cold, flu, and COVID-19 share many similar symptoms.
If you feel sick, it’s important that you stay home and talk with a primary care provider or doctor if necessary. If you develop severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911 immediately.
Everyone has a role to play to reduce the spread of respiratory infections. The actions you take will protect you, loved ones and those most vulnerable in our community. The following guide provides strategies that can be used to reduce the spread of all respiratory illnesses. This includes using the layers of protection that we know help keep ourselves and others healthy, and work better when used together.
Protective Measures
- It is important to get the COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot when you are eligible and stay up to date with routine immunizations. Vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect you and those around you from infectious disease. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu can help protect you from serious illness, hospitalization, and death
- Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations by receiving all recommended doses. To get a COVID-19 vaccine, check clinic locations in Hamilton.
- To find out where you can get a flu shot in Hamilton, check clinic locations.
Screening & Self-assessment
- Keep an eye on your own health to see if you’re developing any new symptoms of respiratory or stomach illnesses
- For example, have you started feeling feverish, developed a new cough or runny nose, have an unexplained headache or feeling of tiredness, and/or new bouts of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea?
- If you have, consider limiting your social interactions with others, as these might be the first signs that you’re getting sick
- If you have any symptoms of illness or tested positive for COVID-19, take this self-assessment to find out what you should do. You can also take it on behalf of a student, child, or someone else. You will get a recommendation on what to do next.
Staying Home When Sick
- If you are sick, it’s best to stay home to prevent spreading the illness to others, except to seek testing or medical care if required
- You should stay home until all the following apply to you:
- Your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea)
- You do not have a fever
- You do not develop any additional symptoms
- When your symptoms are improving and you no longer need to stay at home, doing the following for 10 days after your symptoms started can provide extra protection against the spread germs:
- Wear a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in all public settings
- Avoid non-essential activities where you need to take off your mask (for example, dining out)
- Avoid non-essential visits to anyone who is at higher-risk of illness (for example, older adults)
- Avoid non-essential visits to higher risk settings in the community such as hospitals and long-term care homes
Wash your hands often with soap & water or hand sanitizer
Our hands are one of the most common spreaders of germs, both from others to us and us to others. Keeping your hands clean, either by washing them with soap and water or by using hand sanitizer regularly and around key moments, helps reduce the number of germs and prevents spread of disease
Practice healthy respiratory etiquette
When we cough or sneeze into the air, germs can be spread in our immediate area in droplets that settle and contaminate surfaces. By coughing or sneezing into our hands, this can spread these germs to our hands then on to anything we touch.
This is why it’s best to cover your mouth and nose with your elbow, tissue, or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze as it limits the release of these germ-containing droplets. Don’t forget to dispose of tissues properly and wash handkerchiefs regularly
Wear a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in indoor public settings, especially if you are at higher risk of severe infection.
Masking continues to be an important layer of protection to keep you, your loved ones, and the most vulnerable in our community safe. Wearing a mask, in addition to other public health measures, can reduce the spread of these viruses and is an important measure we can use to protect ourselves and one another.
Masks may still be expected or required in certain settings or situations, including:
- In healthcare settings such as long-term care homes, retirement homes, hospitals and clinics
- In congregate care settings, such as shelters, group homes, 24-hour respite and drop-in sites
- At businesses and organizations that have put in place their own masking policies
- As personal protective equipment
- On some public transportation
Check with individual organizations to learn more about their specific policies.
Tips on Wearing a Mask
Learn more about how to choose, use and care for masks
Temporarily Taking Off Your Mask
If you are is a setting that requires masking, you should be able to take it off temporarily:
- To receive services that require you to take it off (for example, at the dentist or doctor’s office)
- To engage in an athletic or fitness activity
- To eat or drink
- As necessary for health and safety purposes
Exceptions to Masking
In settings where masking is advised or is required, there are some situations when you should not need to wear one. These include:
- Children – Wearing a mask is not recommended for children younger than two years old
- Health and Accommodations – You should not need to provide medical documentation to support any of the exceptions below
- Have a medical condition that inhibits your ability to wear a face covering
- Are unable to put on or remove your face covering without help from someone else
Cleaning is the physical removal of dirt and germs from a surface by wiping, scrubbing, or washing. Disinfecting on the other hand kills germs using a chemical solution.
- Some products can only be used for cleaning, some products can only be used for disinfecting, while some can be used for both. Make sure you read the instructions to understand how best to use the product
When cleaning and disinfecting, it’s important to focus on high-touch surfaces and objects in your home, especially when they’re visibly dirty or when someone in your home is sick. These are areas where germs are likely to settle
- High-touch surfaces and objects in your home may include:
- Toys, toilets, light switches, laundry hampers, phones, television remotes, & other electronics, door handles, doorknobs, refrigerators, dishwashers, cabinets, & faucets
Depending on the product you’re using, you may need to:
- Wear protective equipment like gloves, safety glasses or goggles
- If you’re using gloves, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after you remove them. If you don’t have any soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 70% alcohol
- Open a window or use fans to move the air around. Some products need to be used in well-ventilated areas
- Make sure the product is on the object or surface for enough time for it to do its job
- Properly store and dispose of the product when you’re finished
Poor ventilation in indoor spaces is linked to increased transmission of respiratory infections, particularly if the space is small. Ventilation should be improved whenever possible by increasing the amount of fresh air that flows into a space and by removing virus particles from the air
To improve the ventilation of indoor spaces, you can:
- Open windows and doors regularly when possible. If weather, safety or air quality are a concern, open doors or windows for a small amount or for a few minutes at a time.
- Use portable air cleaners/filterers
- Use ceiling fans or portable fans positioned away from people and near open windows and doors to bring in fresh air, weather permitting
To reduce your personal risk, you can also consider wearing a well-fitted mask, limiting the amount of time spent in crowded indoor spaces, and keeping your distance from others