Testing and Assessment Centres in WDG

Seach for your closest testing locations here.
Take the COVID-19 self-assessment for yourself or on behalf of someone.

Testing at assessment centres or participating community labs:

(This includes mobile and temporary sites in priority areas.)

You can get a COVID-19 test at an assessment centre or participating community lab if any of the following apply to you:

  • Symptoms and exposure
    • Currently experiencing any of the following symptoms:
      • fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher)
      • chills
      • cough that’s new or worsening (continuous, more than usual)
      • barking cough, making a whistling noise when breathing (croup)
      • shortness of breath (out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)
      • sore throat
      • difficulty swallowing
      • runny, stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
      • lost sense of taste or smell
      • pink eye (conjunctivitis)
      • headache that’s unusual or long lasting
      • digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)
      • muscle aches
      • extreme tiredness that is unusual (fatigue, lack of energy)
      • falling down often
      • for young children and infants: sluggishness or lack of appetite
  • Long-term care and other congregate settings
    • a visitor or worker in a long-term care home
    • a worker in a retirement home
    • a resident or worker in a homeless shelter or other congregate setting (for example, group homes, community supported living, disability-specific communities or congregate settings, short-term rehab, hospices and other shelters)
  • Farming
    • a farm worker
  • Indigenous
    • a person who identifies as Indigenous
  • Surgery and other reasons
    • need a test before a scheduled (non-urgent or emergent) surgery in a region with high community transmission (ask your health care provider)
    • an international student that has passed their 14-day quarantine period
    • you received a preliminary positive result through the rapid antigen screening pilot
    • in a targeted testing group as outlined in guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health

Testing at a participating pharmacy

You can get a COVID-19 test at a participating pharmacy if you do not have symptoms AND if any of the following apply to you:

  • Long-term care and other congregate settings
    • a visitor or worker in a long-term care home
    • a worker in a retirement home
    • a resident or worker in a homeless shelter or other congregate setting (for example, group homes, community supported living, disability-specific communities or congregate settings, short-term rehab, hospices and other shelters)
  • Other reasons
    • a farm worker
    • a person who identifies as Indigenous
    • an international student that has passed their 14-day quarantine period

Private COVID-19 testing facilities

  • As of December 11, free COVID-19 tests for outbound international travel will no longer be provided. Private COVID-19 tests are available throughout Ontario and can be found through web search.

What to know before and after you get tested

  • Testing is by appointment only at assessment centres and pharmacies.
  • No referral is needed but you must meet the testing criteria as noted above.
  • Bring your health card with you (if you have one). It is OK if it is expired. Presenting your health card allows you to:
    • Check your test results online. Public Health only calls those who test positive.
    • Be treated or prescribed medication for other respiratory conditions if needed and if this option is available at your assessment centre.
    • Move through the testing process quicker.
  • Do not go to a Public Health office, we do not provide testing.
  • You will receive further instruction from the clinician at the assessment centre based on your individual assessment.
  • WDGPH Guidance for After COVID-19 Testing (Mar 23, 2021)
  • Getting your COVID-19 Test Results
  • Testing Positive and Contact Tracing

COVID-19 Laboratory Testing in Ontario

Laboratory testing is an essential component of Ontario’s response to COVID-19. Not only because it tells us if someone has COVID-19 or not, but also because it sheds light on where and how the virus is spreading. Public Health Ontario’s website has information about testing including how testing is done, the two types of tests (PCR testing to see if someone currently has COVID-19 and serology testing to test if someone previously had COVID-19), cycle threshhold values, testing methods and more. WDG Public Health does not play a role in the testing process but you can find out more at: