Ontario’s Vaccine Verification App to access certain businesses and places is in place. To download your QR code, click here: https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/

To book your COVID-19 vaccination through WDG Public Health visit: https://wdgpublichealth.inputhealth.com/ebooking#new

For information from the Government of Canada, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/canadas-reponse.html

For information from the City of Guelph, please visit: https://guelph.ca/2020/03/city-of-guelph-responding-to-coronavirus/Help keep Ontarians safe by downloading the free COVID Alert App to your phone.

What to do if you‘re experiencing symptoms

Visit the Province of Ontario webpage at covid-19.ontario.ca/exposed for step-by-step instructions for recognizing COVID-19 symptoms, requirements for isolation, eligibility for COVID-19 testing and guidance for informing close contacts about their exposure.

Vaccines

Information on Ontario’s Vaccine Certificate System:

Regulations
Guidance for Businesses
Frequently Asked Questions
Shoppers Drug Mart Rapid Testing Programs
WDG Public Health Self-Isolation Requirements
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11 and First/Second Dose Drop In Clinics (12+)
Booster Doses for Adults 18+
Find screening for schools, employees, and customers
Find WDG Public Health’s Self Isolation Requirements here.

LifeLabs is now offering both symptomatic and asymptomatic testing free of charge at 33 Farley Drive in Guelph. Please note, asymptomatic testing is available for individuals who are high risk or have been in close contact with a COVID-19 case. Find out more here.

To Book an appointment for a 1st, 2nd or 3rd booster dose through WDG Public Health:

Book online, find a drop in clinic or call 1-800-265-7293 x7006 (Monday – Friday; 9a.m.- 4p.m.)

Local Businesses

Guelph specific guidelines from Guelph Wellington Dufferin Public Health can be found here, https://www.wdgpublichealth.ca/your-health/covid-19-information-workplaces-and-living-spaces/workplaces-and-businesses)

The Guelph Wellington Dufferin Public Health Unit has mandated the use of face masks or shields in commercial establishments, under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Businesses are open only for curbside pick up.

Guidance and resources from the Ontario government to prevent Covid-19 in the workplace

Is there any financial help available if I cannot work or have lost my job?

The Ontario Covid-19 Worker Income Protection Benefit provides 3 paid sick days for those who miss work due to Covid-19. Read more and employers can apply here.

Federal Benefits can be found here.

What are my rights as an employee during Covid-19?

For information regarding your employment rights, you can contact the Employment Standards Info Centre at 1-800-531-5551.

If you have concerns about the health and safety of your workplace, you can contact your health and safety rep and/or call the Ontario Health and Safety hotline at 1-877-202-0008.

https://www.canada.ca/en/government/publicservice/covid-19/rights-responsibilities.html for more information

Do I need to provide a doctor’s note to my employer to get my sick-leave benefits?

While a medical certificate signed by your doctor is usually required to get sick-leave benefits, this will not be the case during the COVID-19 crisis. During this time, the government is waiving the need for a sick note for patients who are required to miss work due to self-isolation or quarantine.

What can I do to protect myself if I am unable to work from home?

If your place or work has not been closed as a result of the closure of all non-essential businesses, public health guidance is to work from home wherever possible. However working remotely is not feasible in many workplaces. If you are in this situation, it is important that you follow all health and safety protocols related to your workplace. Under the Occupational Health & Safety Act, most of Ontario’s workers have the right to refuse unsafe work. If you are in a unionized workplace, consult your staff rep before refusing any work.

Financial Assistance for Loss of Work

The Ontario government is extending its Worker Income Protection Benefit program, which provides three paid sick days, until July 31, 2022. Employees can continue to access this paid leave to get tested, vaccinated, self-isolate, or care for a family member. Employers and workers can call the program’s dedicated hotline at 1-888-999-2248 or visit Ontario.ca/COVIDworkerbenefit to get more information and updates about Ontario’s paid sick days.

If you have lost work due to the pandemic, you may be eligible for employment assistance through the federal government. You can view the eligibility requirements and apply here.

Financial support for food, rent, childcare

Ontario Emergency Assistance Program can help you with the cost of food, rent, childcare, disability support, medicine transportation and housing.

To apply, visit wellingtoncounty.ca, apply for Ontario Works online or call 519-837-6274.

Support for homeless, food insecure

Several local agencies are working together to support people who may need food and shelter during this crisis. Learn more about Guelph’s plan to help the homeless during COVID-19.

Please contact the County of Wellington 519-837-6274 with any questions about social housing or emergency housing.

Additional support is being offered by the provincial government for seniors and people on OW and ODSP.

What are the supports for small and medium sized businesses?

Ontario is currently providing some supports, more details of which can be found here:

Covid-19 Small Business Relief Grant applications are open until March 11, 2022. Find out more and apply here.

Ontario’s Tourism Recovery Program – applications are closed as of November 10, 2021

CERS approved tenants were protected from evictions until April 22, 2022.

Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program is now open. You may be eligible for rebates on property taxes or energy costs. Learn more and apply here.

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Offers Temporary Business Wage Subsidy, work sharing options, tax deferrals, loans, and mortgage deferrals. For more information on Federal support programs you can contact Guelph’s Member of Parliament, Lloyd Longfield.

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce in partnership with many local businesses, has created a PPE directory so your business can easily purchase what you need.

Suspension on evictions

The pause on residential evictions enforcement has ended following the expiration of the provincial stay-at-home order on June 2, 2021.

Neither the federal nor the provincial government have suspended rent payments.

Support for students

The moratorium on OSAP payments ended in Sept 2020.

If you are having trouble repaying your Ontario Student Loan and OSAP loans, you can apply to the Ontario Student Loan Rehabilitation Program.

Learn more and apply here.

I’m feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or isolated

There are many mental health supports available for you.

If you are a healthcare worker, go to Here4HealthCare.ca to find support.

If you are a senior, try signing up through Chatting To Wellness for regular phone calls.

If you are a student, you can sign up to be a volunteer with Chatting To Wellness as well.

For general help, see Here4Help.ca

If you are in immediate need, call Here 24/7 at 1-844-HERE247 (437-3247)

Many therapists accepting new patients are now resuming in-person sessions. Note that these services are not free if not covered by insurance. See listing at PsychologyToday.com

Health cards

The province of Ontario now requires the renewal of driver’s licences, licence plate stickers, other driver and vehicle products, Ontario photo cards and Ontario health cards that were temporarily extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Individuals with expired products on or after March 1, 2020, are now required to renew their health card (renew now) and Ontario Photo Card (renew now) by September 2022.

Driver licences

Drivers and vehicle owners with products that expired on or after March 1, 2020, are now required to renew your:

driver’s licence
licence plate sticker
accessible parking permit (renew now)
other driver, vehicle and carrier products

If your Ontario Photo Card expired on or after March 1, 2020, you must renew it by September 2022.

If your Ontario photo health card is expired, you have until September 2022, to renew it.

Is COVID-19 information available in other languages?

It’s‌ ‌essential that‌ ‌we‌ all ‌continue‌ ‌to‌ ‌get‌ ‌our‌ ‌information‌ ‌from‌ ‌reliable and informed ‌sources‌ as we respond to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Below are links to COVID-19 fact sheets in some of the most commonly spoken languages in our local community. Please share these with people in your networks who may need them:

English: https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-english-2020-02-18.pdf

Français (French): https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-french-2020-02-18.pdf

বাংলা (Bengali): https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-bengali-2020-02-18.pdf

Tagalog: https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-tagalog-2020-02-18.pdf

中文 (简体) (Simplified Chinese): https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-simplified-chinese-2020-02-18.pdf

中文 (繁體) (Traditional Chinese): https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-traditional-chinese-2020-02-18.pdf

தமிழ் (Tamil): https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-tamil-2020-02-18.pdf

‎اُردُو (Urdu): https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-urdu-2020-02-18.pdf

Farsi: https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-farsi-2020-02-18-v2.pdf

Ελληνικά (Greek): https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-greek-2020-02-18.pdf

Español (Spanish): https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-spanish-2020-02-18.pdf

Full list of available languages here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus#section-11