WDG Public Health works alongside our long-term care homes, retirement homes, acute care facilities and other congregate settings to manage and prevent outbreaks by providing guidance based on the Recommendations for Outbreak Prevention and Control in Institutions and Congregate Living Settings document.

Outbreak reporting

If you are a congregate setting looking to report a suspect or confirmed outbreak, contact Public Health:

Fall Preparedness: Plan Ahead for Outbreaks

Fall and winter bring an increased risk of respiratory illness outbreaks. Long-term care homes, retirement homes, acute care facilities and other congregate settings are encouraged to review their outbreak preparedness plans before respiratory illness activity increases.

Use the Outbreak Management & Fall Preparedness Self-Audit Form (PDF) tool to help identify gaps and assess your facility's outbreak readiness in four key areas:  

• Supplies and Testing: Verify stock and testing processes.
• IPAC Auditing: Review infection prevention and control best practices.
• Outbreak Preparation: Confirm protocols, signage and communication plans are current.
• Antivirals and Exclusion: Review staff and resident immunization, antiviral readiness and exclusion protocols.

Completing the self-audit can help your facility identify areas that need attention and ensure staff are prepared to respond to a suspected or confirmed outbreak.

Supplementary Resources:

• Droplet Contact Precaution Sign (PDF)
• Contact Precaution Sign (PDF)
• Initial Outbreak Steps Poster (PDF)
• Do Not Visit When Sick Poster (PDF)
• Symptom Assessment Tool (PDF)
• Reporting an Outbreak (PDF)
• Influenza Outbreaks and Antiviral Information for Staff (letter)
• Tamiflu Recommendations in an Outbreak (PDF)

Outbreak Quick Reference Guides

WDGPH has developed outbreak quick reference guides to support staff who manage outbreaks.

• Managing a Gastrointestinal Outbreak
• Managing a Respiratory Outbreak
• Managing Ill Staff

Testing

• Verify all testing kits (Nasopharyngeal swabs and stool kits) are within their expiry dates.
• Review your current inventory to ensure you have enough testing supplies available.
• Ensure you are using the Public Health Ontario General Test Requisition for outbreak testing.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Review your current PPE inventory as it is recommended to have at least a two-week supply available.
• Testing and PPE supplies can be ordered through the PPE Supply Portal.

Vaccination

In the event of an influenza outbreak, Public Health will request staff and resident influenza vaccination information. Ensure you have a method to track vaccinations (and vaccination refusals) and provide this information to Public Health in a timely manner.

When completing the line list, include resident vaccination data (COVID-19, RSV, Influenza) to provide a detailed clinical history.

Ensure that staff exclusion policies, including those applicable to unvaccinated staff, have been reviewed and are up to date.

For support on setting up this years fall vaccination clinics in your facility, please see the resources below:

• 2026-2027 Vaccine Information Package
• Vaccine Information Fact Sheet for residents
• Update on the transition from COVaxON to Panorama Guided Workflow (PGW)

Antiviral Medications

• Review your internal antiviral policies and procedures.
• Ensure your facility has a plan in place to rapidly obtain antiviral medications for treatment and prophylaxis during an influenza outbreak. Consider utilizing a medical directive to streamline access for residents.
• Confirm arrangements with your chosen and/or assigned pharmacy to obtain antiviral medications as quickly as possible, including weekends and holidays.

For information on respiratory viruses, and antiviral medications please refer to the Public Health Ontario website.

If you have any issues gaining access to antiviral medications during an influenza outbreak reach out to Public Health immediately at the numbers above.

Staffing Considerations

Designate staff for outbreak management coverage, including weekend and night shifts.

Ensure those designated staff have access to necessary resources (e.g. vaccination data, line list viewing and submission capabilities, test results, etc.) and review the Initial Outbreak Steps resource with them.

Review your staffing contingency plans to prepare for potential shortages due to increased illness.

Other resources

The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph IPAC Hub has created many resources to help facilities prevent and manage outbreaks. Check out the IPAC Hub page to see how the IPAC Hub can support your facility!

If you have any questions or would like to request outbreak or infection prevention and control (IPAC)  support, please email us at congregatesetting@wdgpublichealth.ca.

To view a list of facilities currently experiencing an outbreak, refer to the outbreak bulletin.