Preventing COVID-19

Updated: Mar 12, 2021

Follow public health measures

Canadians should continue to think ahead about the actions that they can take to stay healthy and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Canada. Measures to reduce COVID-19 in your community are especially important as some areas begin to lift restrictions.

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within communities and across the country, all Canadians are advised to avoid or keep exposure very brief.

Avoid closed spaces, crowded places, close contact settings and close-range conversation or settings where there's:
- singing
- shouting
- heavy breathing (for example, during exercise)

Wear a non-medical mask or face covering when you're in:
- public and you might come into close contact with others
- shared indoor spaces with people from outside your immediate household

Stay home and away from others if you feel sick.
Keep the number of people you have prolonged contact with as small as possible.
Stick to a small and consistent social circle and avoid gathering in large groups.
Talk to your employer about working at home if possible.
Limit contact with those at risk of more severe illness, such as:
- older adults
- those with underlying medical conditions
- those with compromised immune systems

Go outside to exercise.
Maintain a physical distance of 2 metres from people outside of your household.
- Household contacts (people you live with) don't need to distance from each other unless they're sick or have travelled in the last 14 days.

Wearing non-medical masks or face coverings

Wear a non-medical mask or face covering when:

you're in public and you might come into close contact with others
you're in shared indoor spaces with people from outside your immediate household
advised by your local public health authority

Public health officials make recommendations to wear non-medical masks or face coverings based on a number of factors. These factors including rates of infection and/or transmission in the community. In some jurisdictions, the use of non-medical masks or face coverings is now mandatory in many indoor public spaces and on public transit. Check with your local public health authority on the requirements for your location.

Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering is part of a layered approach to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You must consistently and strictly practise:

good hygiene, which includes frequent hand washing and not touching your face with unwashed hands
public health measures, such as:
- staying home when you're not feeling well
- maintaining a physical distance of 2 metres from people outside of your household

For more information on wearing non-medical masks and face coverings, refer to the:

guidelines on wearing non-medical masks and how to make your own
COVID-19 Special Advisory Committee's recommendations on the use of non-medical masks or face coverings in community settings

Cleaning and disinfecting

The COVID-19 virus is most likely to be on surfaces you frequently touch with your hands. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces to lower the chance of COVID-19 spreading in your home, workplace and public spaces.

Health Canada has published a list of hard surface disinfectants that are likely to be effective for use against COVID-19.

Special precautions must be used when cleaning with bleach to avoid serious incidents.