Testing & Treating Respiratory Illnesses

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.

COVID-19 testing eligibility

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.

Antiviral treatments

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 age, 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 a combination of age and other medical conditions or risk factors based on an assessment by your health-care provider

Flu treatment

Antiviral treatments for the flu (Tamiflu) may reduce the severity and duration of infection if administered within 48 hours of symptom onset.

A physician, nurse practitioner or participating pharmacist may prescribe Tamiflu if you have symptoms of respiratory illness and are at higher risk of complications of influenza.