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
- Currently experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- 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
- Getting your COVID-19 Test Results
- Testing Positive and Contact Tracing