Reducing COVID-19 risk in community settings: A tool for operators
On this page
- About this tool
- How to use this tool
- COVID-19 activity in your area
- Physical features of your setting
- People who access your setting
- Activities and interactions in the setting
About this tool
This tool is a resource for operators of non-health care community settings the public can access. This tool is based on:
- available guidance about adjusting public health measures in the context of COVID-19 vaccination, which considers the Canadian context
- the best available scientific evidence and expert opinion and takes into account the specific needs of diverse groups
Public health authorities will determine whether and when it’s necessary to adjust measures by considering several indicators.
Follow directions from your provincial/territorial health authorities, and local public health, about:
- re-opening
- allowing more people into the setting
- returning to usual activities that allow more people to participate as gathering size restrictions are lifted
If you’ve eased measures in your setting, be prepared to re-instate them in a layered approach (using multiple measures at once) if circumstances change, as required by public health authorities. This will depend on the type of setting or if you feel more comfortable having measures in place in your setting. Changes in circumstances could include:
- an increased number of new or active cases
- an outbreak of COVID-19 in the setting or community
- a new variant of concern that spreads more easily, causes more serious illness or isn't responsive to existing vaccines and treatments
If you're an operator, this tool will help you assess and identify strategies to help reduce the risk for COVID-19 transmission, including variants of concern.
Settings this tool applies to may include, but are not limited to:
- schools (kindergarten to grade 12, post-secondary)
- day cares and summer camps
- business and retail settings
- workplaces (including essential retailers)
- places of worship
- recreational facilities (for example, sports facilities, parks, and gyms)
- event venues
Use this tool alongside and in support of:
- guidance, legislation and regulations from:
- Indigenous leadership
- public health authorities
- provincial and territorial governments
- occupational health and safety requirements
COVID-19 plans should be comprehensive, tailored to your unique circumstances and consider the diverse needs of the people accessing your setting. When drafting plans, for additional information on public health measures, consult with regional or local public health authority resources and/or environmental public health officers (for example, in Indigenous communities).
Make sure you're familiar with:
- how COVID-19 is spread
- common symptoms of COVID-19
- general measures that can be used to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Information in this tool may change as we learn more about vaccine effectiveness and coverage, transmission of variants of concern and the effectiveness of public health measures.
How to use this tool
Use this tool to identify different strategies that may help to lower the risk of COVID-19 spread in your setting. As you work through each section, place a checkmark beside the measures that make sense in your setting. At the end of the tool, you'll be able to print a list of these items for reference.
This tool has 4 sections:
- COVID-19 activity in your area
- Physical features of your setting
- People who access your setting
- Activities and interactions in your setting
Each section in this tool will:
- explain the purpose of the section related to how COVID-19 may spread
- provide questions about COVID-19 risk for you to consider
- list some public health measures that may be useful
This tool doesn't list every possible public health measure that might be useful in a specific setting. We encourage you to find ways to lower the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your setting that align with the local situation and public health advice.
Consider how measures may impact emergency preparedness plans like building evacuation and medical emergencies unrelated to COVID-19. Make sure the measures don't introduce new hazards into the setting either (for example, don't prop open fire doors).
Some measures may only make sense in indoor spaces or supervised outdoor spaces. Others may not be possible in unstructured or unsupervised settings.
Using several different public health measures in a layered approach is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. If you have concerns about being able to put in place certain measures, talk to your regional or local public health authority, environmental health officer, or consult occupational health and safety resources. They can help you make a decision about whether or not your setting should be open (if applicable).
Related links
For workplaces and businesses
- COVID-19 rapid testing and screening program for workplaces
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- How businesses and employees can stay safe while operating during COVID-19
- Adjusting public health measures in the context of COVID-19 vaccination
For gatherings and events
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