COVID-19

Last updated: November 19, 2021

Welcome!

Welcome to CHEO! We know that information changes quickly during the pandemic and we’ve put together this page to help you find popular topics, questions and answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us at webmaster@cheo.on.ca and we’ll be happy to help.

You are safe when you come to CHEO and we always strive to deliver exceptional care. We hope you have a good visit onsite and wonderful day!

Coming to CHEO?

Fill out your online self-screening

Can't find what you're looking for?

If you have questions about CHEO's COVID-19 response, call our hotline: 613-737-7600, ext. 6720.
If you have general questions about the COVID-19 virus, visit the Ottawa Public Health website.

Reminder: bring your proof of vaccination to CHEO
• CHEO asks everyone about their vaccination status as part of our entrance screening.
• Please bring a digital or paper copy of your proof of vaccination if you have it, and be prepared to show it along with one piece of ID.

Parent/caregiver presence policy and visitor policy:
When parents and caregivers come with their child or youth to CHEO, they arrive not as visitors, but as part of the care team. They are actively working with us as part of their child’s care team, providing vital health information only they would know and giving emotional support in a way only a parent or caregiver can. For this reason, parents/caregivers will never be separated from their child.

Who is a parent/caregiver or visitor?

Parent/caregiver: Someone who is over 14 years old and helps a child or youth with activities of daily living – e.g. parent, grandparent, older sibling, legal guardian, etc. A parent/caregiver can be designated by a patient. A parent/caregiver is never considered a visitor because they are a vital part of the care team.

Visitor: Someone who is part of a child or youth’s family or support network—e.g. sibling, extended family member, friend, etc.—but not a designated parent/caregiver.

Designated visitor: a visitor, 12 or older, that a patient has specifically identified as one of their four allowed visitors.

CHEO is safe

CHEO remains a safe place for you to come with your child/youth. To make sure we are always putting safety first and minimizing any chance of transmission of infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, anyone who comes to CHEO, including parents, caregivers and visitors, is screened before entering, including being asked whether they (or anyone living with them) have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days. Anyone who is sick will not be allowed to enter. Rest assured, if you, as part of the care team, cannot come onsite due to sickness, we will work with you to make sure your child/youth has support.

Make sure to complete our entrance screening each day before coming to CHEO. Additional safety precautions remain in place – including, physical distancing, masking, and handwashing, to name a few.

Have you/someone you live with travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?

If you have an upcoming in-person appointment, please contact your clinical team to make the necessary arrangements for your appointment. These arrangements can include a virtual appointment or rebooking your appointment until 14 days after any international travel.

For everyone’s safety, we are asking that all parents, caregivers and visitors who are able to get vaccinated do so.

For visitors: we require that all visitors to CHEO be fully vaccinated.

For parents/caregivers: parents/caregivers are asked to be vaccinated to protect those they interact with while at CHEO. Those who are currently unvaccinated or partially vaccinated will still be permitted to come to CHEO, with additional safety measures. As important members of our care team, we will never create a barrier for parents/caregivers to accompany their child to CHEO.

What to expect if you are an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated parent/caregiver?
Ultimately we want everyone who visits CHEO to be fully vaccinated. For the very few who fall into the category of unvaccinated/partially vaccinated, here’s what you can expect:

Additional screening questions as part of our entrance screen – please plan to arrive early as you will need to answer a few more questions.

You will be escorted to your child/youth’s bedside.

You will not be allowed in common spaces such as the cafeteria, coffee shop, or pharmacy — please bring your own snacks and ask your care team how you can get what you need while staying at your child’s bedside.

Entering CHEO

Where to enter

All children, youth and parents/caregivers must enter through the main entrance for clinic visits, or the Emergency Department in urgent cases. Other entrances are closed.

Who can enter

To limit the number of people in the building the following rules apply:

Coming for a clinic/Surgical Day Unit appointment, or an Emergency Department visit

Only ONE parent or caregiver will be allowed to accompany children and youth while at CHEO

For some patients (e.g. persons with disabilities) coming for an appointment in a clinic or the Surgical Day Unit, a second essential support person may be allowed to help patients and care teams. For patients and parents/caregivers who require additional support, please contact your care team to determine if an exception to ONE parent or caregiver at a time can be granted. For Emergency Department (ED) visits, please discuss your need for an exception on arrival to the ED.

Staying at the hospital

TWO designated parents/caregivers and FOUR designated visitors are permitted (designated visitors must be 12 or older).

Overnight, only one parent/caregiver is permitted to remain onsite.

During the day, only two parents/caregivers or visitors are permitted on site at the same time.

For example, one parent/caregiver and one visitor can accompany a child during the morning and another parent/caregiver and visitor can accompany the child later in the day. As a reminder, only one caregiver can remain with the child overnight.

Who can't enter

Any visitor who is unvaccinated or partially vaccinated as of September 22, 2021 (unless they have been granted an exception for compassionate reasons by the care team).

Parents/caregivers or visitors who do not pass the entrance screening.

Siblings younger than 12 are not permitted. We appreciate this requires childcare arrangements for younger siblings and we are grateful for your support in doing so.

Thank you

COVID-19 has created many new rules and safety procedures we all need to follow. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to update our procedures in line with direction from Public Health Ontario. Please be kind to our entrance screeners, staff and medical staff when you meet them. Safety first is our top priority at CHEO.

Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and CHEO

If you are unable to find the answer you're looking for here, our Patient Experience Team is available to answer any of your questions about CHEO's COVID-19 response! Call 613-737-7600, ext. 6720.

Remember, if you have general questions about the COVID-19 virus, call or visit the Ottawa Public Health website.

Coming to CHEO

Frequently asked questions

Is CHEO a safe place to be?

Yes! CHEO is a safe place for kids, caregivers and staff. Here are the key ways we are ensuring the safety of children youth and families during this time:

Everyone is carefully screened when they come to CHEO – this includes all staff, medical staff and families.
Everyone is provided with a mask to wear the entire time they are at CHEO.
We have signage and floor markers throughout CHEO, reminding everyone to keep a safe 2 meter distance.
We made changes to our parent/caregiver presence policy to minimize the number of people onsite.
We have an infection control and prevention team who makes sure CHEO upholds infection control standards and practices in accordance with current provincially and/or federally legislated requirements, and/or currently accepted professional guidelines and recommendations

For more information, read through our step by step guide of what to expect when coming to CHEO below.

What is CHEO doing to screen and protect patients?

CHEO staff are actively screening all patients and visitors. Recent travel history or exposure to sick travellers, along with new symptoms of illness, help us quickly identify children and youth who may have the virus. Any patient who screens positive for possible exposure to the virus will be placed on additional precautions and evaluated further to determine if testing is required.

Our Infection Prevention and Control team is in close contact with Ottawa Public Health and other agencies to help guide decision-making and receive updates on the virus.

Is it safe to bring personal items for my child's appointment or stay at CHEO?

Yes it is safe to bring personal items for your child's appointment or stay. However we ask that you only bring as few items as possible — only the items you need — and wash or disinfect them before and after to prevent the spread of infection. This is especially important if you are coming for a clinic appointment or to our Emergency Department.

What do I do if my child or youth has an existing health condition or has complex care needs?

If your child has an existing health condition, or requires complex care, it is very important you follow Ottawa Public Health’s preventive and preparation measures — especially if you are their primary caregiver. In addition, please:

do not hesitate to visit CHEO’s Emergency Department if your child is in need of emergency care — we are actively screening all patients for recent travel history, exposure to sick travelers and symptoms of illness
ensure you have 2-3 weeks of medication and medical supplies on hand
consider making a back-up support in the event your child’s primary caregiver becomes sick
ask anyone who will be in contact with your child if they have infectious symptoms and ask them to stay away if they do
limit your exposure to public places as much as possible — consider using a grocery delivery service, or asking for help from family and friends
contact your primary care provider or social worker with any additional questions or concerns you might have

My child or youth needs to come to the CHEO Emergency Department. What should I do?

When you arrive at the Emergency Department, please:

wash your hands with hand sanitizer.

If your child or youth is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19:

put on masks when you arrive
Let the screeners know about their symptoms and recent travel history, including travel of those close to them.

What amenities and accommodations are available to caregivers at CHEO?

To prevent the spread of infection and keep kids, caregivers and staff safe, we have had to limit some of the amenities available at CHEO right now. Our Ronald McDonald Family Lounges are currently closed.

Computer and internet access

Wireless internet is available free of charge. Simply open your laptop or mobile device and select “CHEO_Guest” from the list of networks. Then click “Connect.” Before doing so, please familiarize yourself with our terms of use.

Computers in the Ronald McDonald Family Room and Family Resource Library are currently unavailable. Please use your own devices.

Food services

CHEO’s Oasis Cafe and Rainbow Cafeteria are still open to kids, caregivers and staff. Please follow social distancing while in these areas!

We also offer room delivery to kids and caregivers on our inpatient units, including those in isolation. Learn how you can order food to your bedside using the new CBORD app.

New: We've extended our inpatient delivery services to 10pm daily. You can continue to order from our regular menu from 8am - 7pm. From 7pm to 10pm you can now order from our limited after hours menu. Please ask a member of your care team for either menu.

Microwaves and refrigerators

Our family kitchen on 4 West and other units are still open for caregivers. You can use the microwave and refrigerator there while your child or youth is at CHEO as an inpatient. If your child or youth is in isolation, unfortunately you will not be able to use these shared microwaves and refrigerators.

KidCare Pharmacy offers delivery and drive-thru services

CHEO’s KidCare Pharmacy now delivers prescription packages to inpatient nursing stations and the Emergency Department, as well as to customers outside the Main Entrance.

For delivery inside CHEO: A nurse simply calls ext. 6037 with an order. The nurse who places the order will receive the package at the nursing station.)
For pick-up at the Main Entrance: Call KidCare Pharmacy at 613-737-2316. Once your prescription is ready, KidCare alerts you and you simply drive up to the Main Entrance, where a friendly KidCare delivery person runs your prescription package out to the trunk of their car.

Sleep rooms and accommodations

Our sleep rooms are currently closed. If you want to stay overnight with your child, there are sleep beds available in each inpatient room. Only one caregiver can be on-site at a time.

Rotel — reservations can be made online or by phone
Homewood Suites - Downtown Ottawa — Studio suites for $79, 1 bedroom suites for $104 plus tax. Includes laundry services, to-go bagged breakfast and wifi. These discounted rates for CHEO families can be accessed using code MCD
Travelodge East
Holiday Inn East — not accepting those with respiratory viruses)
YMCA. Please call 311 and speak to a crisis worker to receive a referral.

Showers, washrooms and menstrual products

We have two showers available for family caregivers who are staying at CHEO. To access them, call 613-737-7600, ext. 6705. Towels are provided.

Male, female and gender neutral washrooms are available throughout CHEO. There are wheelchair accessible washrooms on each floor. Based on youth feedback, we now offer free menstrual products in washrooms across CHEO for youth, caregivers and staff.

Laundry services

The laundry machines in the Ronald McDonald Family Room are currently closed. If you need laundry services, Maple Laundromart on St. Laurent blvd offers services to CHEO families, including pick-up and drop-off for larger loads. Please contact them for pricing information or to arrange for services.

Social work support

Social work support is available 24/7 for children, youth and caregivers at CHEO. Please ask your care team to help connect you with our social work support. They can provide face-to-face or phone support.

Spiritual support and multi-faith prayer room

Spiritual services are available 24/7 for children, youth, caregivers and staff at CHEO. Kids and caregivers, please ask your care team to help connect you with our spiritual support. They can provide face-to-face or phone support.

Our multi-faith prayer room is still open. If you’re planning to use the multi-faith prayer room, please:

wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitizer, before and after using the room,
do not use the room if another family is already using it.

Do I have to pay for parking to switch places with my spouse or other caregiver?

CHEO has designed a number of different parking options because we never want parking to be a barrier to care. Please visit our Parking page for more information, including rates and other details. As always, our social workers are available to help families in financial need explore payment options.

Are there any changes to how my health information is shared?

As part of our emergency response to the COVID-19 situation, CHEO, The Ottawa Hospital and SickKids in Toronto will now allow your patient health record to be securely accessed by partner hospitals should you attend at one of these hospitals during the pandemic. This access is occurring via Epic’s Care Everywhere functionality and your health information will only accessed by those health-care professionals providing care to you.

Can I still pay my hospital bills in person?

Until further notice, families will not be able to pay bills in person at the cashier window. Instead, please pay your bills online using our online form.

If you have any questions, or troubles accessing the online form, please call our Finance office at 613-737-7600, ext. 2242.

What to expect when visiting CHEO: A step by step guide

CHEO is a safe place for children and youth, caregivers and staff. We want you to know exactly what to expect when you come for an in-person appointment. Here is a step-by-step guide of what to expect while our COVID-19 precautions are in place:

Before your visit: complete your online self-screening

Before coming to CHEO fill out your online screening questions on the day of your scheduled appointment. Families who fill out their questions in advance will have access to our "Fast Lane" and spend less time in the screening area.

Complete your online screen!

Arriving at CHEO

Park is in the usual visitor parking and make your way to the main entrance. This is a special family-only entrance where you will show your self-screening email confirmation to our staff greeters and be given masks.

Families who may experience accessibility challenges entering via the Main Entrance can enter CHEO using the Gary Cardiff Wing entrance. Before you arrive, please call our COVID-19 Screening Team at 613-727-7600, ext. 6705. They will meet you at the Gary Cardiff Wing entrance to conduct your COVID-19 screening and help you enter the building.

Plan to arrive 15 minutes earlier than you normally would. Because of all our enhanced safety measures you might need a bit more time to get to your clinic.

Read our current parent/caregiver presence policy.

Take some time to go over what to expect with your child or youth. All our staff will be wearing masks and PPE which can be a bit intimidating! You can watch our superheroes behind the mask video with your child before your visit.

Wear a mask into the building if you have a homemade cloth mask with you. You will be given another mask after you are screened but masks from home are helpful in case you have to line up to be screened.

Main entrance screening and online screening

If you have completed your screening questions online, please have your clearance email ready to show staff when it is your turn.
If you have NOT completed your screening questions in advance, line up using the physical distancing markers in place for your safety. If you or your child are immunocompromised, let CHEO staff at the door know right away! We will safely get you to your clinic, without waiting in line.
Answer the screening questions. You will be asked a few simple questions about your family’s health and recent travel. Your answers will help CHEO staff know what precautions are required to keep you safe during your visit.
Put on the masks provided to you and your child. You’ll notice everyone will be wearing a hospital supplied mask at CHEO. Please make sure you wear your mask the entire time you’re visiting to help protect yourself and others.
Remove your gloves. If you are wearing gloves when you arrive, you will be asked to remove them and sanitize your hands because this is the best way to keep your hands clean. Hand sanitizer will be provided.

Did you know: CHEO has clear face masks which staff can wear to make it easier for our Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and families to understand and communicate with their care providers! If you would find it helpful for your care provider to wear a clear mask, please let them know when you arrive.

Please note, there may be some cases where a staff member is unable to wear a clear mask because it doesn't fit them properly. To keep you safe, we need to make sure our staff are always wearing properly fitted masks and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Getting to and from your appointment

Make your way to your clinic following the signs posted. Depending on the answers you provided during your screen, you might be escorted to and from your clinic.
Look for new signage in waiting areas that indicate where to sit, and try to perform hand hygiene and physical distancing whenever possible. Young children might have a harder time with physical distancing. Please do your best to make sure they are keeping physical distance too.
If you have been assigned an escort, wait for them to return and bring you back to the main entrance or the Max Keeping wing entrance. A staff member from the clinic would be happy to assist in calling an escort if they are not waiting for you after your appointment.
Sanitize your hands at the hygiene station and return your masks as instructed.

That’s it! It’s our goal to help you feel as safe as possible when you’re coming to CHEO. We’d love to hear how your experience was returning to CHEO so please let us know on social media, or write to us at experience@cheo.on.ca

CHEO Super Helpers

Help your child or youth prepare for their visit to CHEO during COVID-19 using a visual supports story developed by CHEO's Autism Program and Child Life specialists.

CHEO's Super Helpers

CHEO staff in the main lobby, in PPE and their arms raised out to show they are physically distanced

COVID-19 vaccine

Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination

Where can I find resources and supports around vaccination for children and youth?

Visit our COVID-19 Vaccination resource page to find the latest resources and supports for families, from CHEO and our partners.

How can I get my vaccination receipt?

After each dose of the COVID-19 vaccine that you get, you will be able to log into the provincial portal to download and or print an electronic COVID-19 vaccine receipt. The vaccine receipt will be a pdf document.

You will need the following to log into the provincial portal:

A green photo health (OHIP) card (you will need the numbers from the front and back of the card, expired cards will be accepted)
Your date of birth
Your postal code that is associated with your health card

Access the provincial portal for your PDF electronic receipt to download.

If you have a red and white health card, call the Provincial Vaccine Booking line at 1-833-943-3900. You will be emailed a copy of the vaccine receipt after your request.

Individuals who do not have a health card but were immunized in Ontario and need proof of vaccination can call 613-691-5505 and listen to the options.

What about vaccination of highest-risk patients aged 12-15?

What is the clinical course of COVID-19 infection in children aged 12 to 15 years?

Evidence to date suggests that in general, children infected with COVID-19 are not at increased risk of severe disease.
The majority of COVID-19 infections in this age group are reported to be mostly mild or even asymptomatic.
However, there are reports that children with underlying health conditions (see below) are at greater risk of symptomatic infection or more severe disease although the evidence is limited and mixed.

What are underlying medical conditions known to be associated with increased risk of hospitalization or mortality in children 12-15?

Children with underlying health conditions, including chronic respiratory insufficiency, obesity, malignancy and neurodevelopmental conditions have had higher rates of hospitalization with acute COVID-19 but their overall clinical course has generally been favorable.
At this time, conditions as listed by the provincial ministry as being highest risk and high-risk medical conditions are as follows:

Highest-Risk Health Conditions:

Organ transplant recipients
Hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Neurological diseases in which respiratory function may be compromised (e.g., motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis)
Haematological malignancy diagnosed <1 year
Kidney disease eGFR< 30

High-Risk Health Conditions:

Obesity (BMI > 40)
Other treatments causing immunosuppression (e.g., chemotherapy, immunity- weakening medications)
Intellectual or developmental disabilities (e.g., Down Syndrome)

The list of health conditions is not exhaustive. Health care practitioners should use their best medical judgement to vaccinate patients with health conditions not listed (e.g., rare diseases) that may put them at similar or greater risk to listed conditions.

What are situations that might increase the risk of a child’s exposure to COVID-19?

The following are examples of situations where there may be varying increased risk of exposure to COVID-19:

Lives in a long-term care facility
Lives in a group home
Other congregate living environments where there is shared space (e.g. sleeping areas, shared bathrooms, shared kitchens, communal dining spaces)
Attends developmental services
Attends or lives in mental health and addictions congregate settings
Youth justice facilities
Homes for special care
Children’s residential facilities

Other factors to consider:

Attending in-person learning (school, education centers)
Limited capacity or unable to comply with physical distancing, wearing face covering
Lives with household member at high risk of exposure

In addition, the risk also varies with community rates of COVID-19 especially in COVID-19 hot spot communities (as identified by provincial data supported by PHU local knowledge and expertise). Current and Local epidemiology should also be taken into consideration.

If I am breastfeeding, should I get vaccinated?

For up-to-date recommendations and information on who can get vaccinated — including information on groups who weren’t included in the first clinical trials — visit Ottawa Public Health’s COVID-19 vaccine FAQ.

Information for children and youth with medical complexities

Find the latest information on whether your child or youth is eligible to receive their first, second or third dose at CHEO.

First and/or second doses

Kids Come First Health Team vaccine update

CHEO, Roger Neilson House and community pediatricians and family physicians are working together to bring pediatric expertise to vaccine clinics across Ottawa, including at CHEO.

All individuals 12 years of age (includes 11 year olds turning 12 before the end of 2021) and older are eligible to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment through the Provincial Booking Portal or through the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007).

Support for youth who are unable to be vaccinated in the community for medical reasons

The Kids Come First Health team will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines at CHEO exclusively for youth ages 12 years old (includes 11 year olds turning 12 before the end of 2021) and up who are unable to be vaccinated in the community for medical reasons, along with their caregivers. These reasons can include:

history of anaphylaxis (severe allergy requiring epi-pen)
patients who have medical complexities or technology-dependency that makes it difficult to attend a community clinic (e.g., tracheostomy and ventilator or uncontrolled seizure disorder)
immunosuppression
conditions that makes it challenging to be in crowded spaces (anxiety, autism)
other medical reasons that are not listed above but make it challenging for the youth to be vaccinated in the community

If you think your child requires a vaccination at CHEO for any of the reasons indicated above, please complete the pre-registration form below. A Kids Come First Health Team member will follow up with you within 3 business days to review your eligibility and discuss your options with you.

Visit the COVID-19 vaccines for youth web page for more information. If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccination for your child, please discuss them with your family physicians or your care team at CHEO. For all other inquiries please contact Patient Experience 613-737-7600, ext. 6720.

Access the CHEO/Kids Come First Health Team registration form

Access the Provincial Booking Portal

Third doses

We are currently reviewing the expanded criteria for third doses. We will update this section as more information becomes available.

The Ontario Ministry of Health has provided very specific guidance on who can receive a third dose booster of the COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, the province has indicated that third doses can be offered to individuals 12+ who are:

Transplant recipients (including solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplants)
Patients with hematological cancers (examples include lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia) on active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy) for malignant hematologic disorders
Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (e.g. rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab)
Residents of high-risk congregate settings including long-term care homes, higher-risk licensed retirement homes and First Nations elder care lodges

We are not able to provide third dose boosters to anyone that does not meet any of these criteria.

I meet this criteria. How can I get a third dose?

If you are a CHEO patient who meets this criteria, you can expect to hear from your specialist by mid-late September. Your specialist will provide you with a letter that indicates your eligibility. This letter can be taken to any vaccination clinic in Ontario to receive a third dose.

CHEO continues to provide small vaccination clinics for youth who require vaccination at CHEO for medical reasons. If you would prefer to receive your third dose at CHEO, please complete this questionnaire and a member of our Vaccination Team will follow up with you.

Access the CHEO/Kids Come First Health Team questionnaire

I have questions about the third dose, who can I talk to?

If you have any questions about the third dose booster, please speak with your specialist.
If you have questions about scheduling or cancelling a vaccine appointment, you can email us at patientvaccinations@cheo.on.ca

Looking for more information on COVID-19 vaccination for children and youth age 5-11? Visit our Vaccination page.

Cartoon of vaccine needle and a staff wearing a face mask and face shield

COVID-19 testing

COVID-19 testing for children and youth (new: Do-It-Yourself Test Kits available by appointment!)

New: Do-It-Yourself Test Kits are now available, by appointment, for children and youth ages 2 months to 18 years.

The Do-It-Yourself Test Kit includes instructions, a registration form and a gentle and easy to use self-swab PCR test. Complete the self-swab on-site, in the car or back at home. Return it to our team at the Brewer Assessment Centre on the same day you picked it up, for processing at the lab.

Do-It-Yourself Test Kits are available for children and youth currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Visit the Ottawa Public Health website to see the testing criteria for children & youth.

Watch this instructional video for children, youth and parents/caregivers on how to do the self-swab:

Learn more and book an appointment to schedule your pick-up time.

View Ottawa's daily testing update

COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre at Brewer Park Arena

The COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre at Brewer Park Arena is an out-of-hospital testing site where children and youth (over two months old and under 18 years of age) can get tested for COVID-19 by a health-care provider. It is operated by CHEO, in partnership with The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), Ottawa Public Health (OPH), and the City of Ottawa.

The COVID-19 CHEO Assessment Centre at Brewer Park Arena for children and youth (2 months to up to the day before their 18th birthday) is available by appointment only.

For those requiring extra support for accessibility reasons, please contact CHEO’s Patient Experience team at 613-737-7600, ext. 6720.

Hours of operation (effective May 1, 2021):

Monday to Friday, 10:30 am to 5:30 pm

Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Ages: 2 months to the day before 18th birthday (infants under 2 months of age must visit the CHEO Emergency Department)

Learn more and book an appointment here

What to expect during your COVID-19 test at Brewer Park

How to do a combined nose and mouth swab for COVID-19

The combined mouth/nasal swab is now available for children and youth of all ages coming to CHEO's COVID19 Assessment Centre at Brewer. Many kids and teens prefer this test because it's less invasive than the longer nasal swab. The nasal swab is still available if preferred.

Please note a child or youth may not be eligible for the combined mouth/nasal swab if:

They have had something to eat or drink (including gum) less than 30 minutes before their appointment
They have received a negative COVID-19 test and are being re-tested. These children will be given the longer nasal swab

How to find my results

We know that the results from your test(s) will impact your household, whether it’s getting better from your illness or returning to child care, school and work. We want you to know your results as soon as possible, but there are sometimes delays processing results because of high demand. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Will I get a call?

The CHEO Brewer Test Result team only calls if you tested positive (also reported as “detected”).

There are four ways to get your results:

Ontario Health COVID-19 Results Portal (for Ontario residents only)

If you have a valid OHIP number, you can check your results using the online portal.

MyChart (available to anyone living in Canada)

All CHEO patients can sign up for MyChart. This is especially relevant for those who do not have OHIP. To activate your MyChart account, please follow any remaining steps on the MyChart instruction sheet given to you during your registration. Activating MyChart takes between one and three days.

If you are having problems with your activation, or with navigating MyChart to view your results, please contact the MyChart Support Line at 613-737-7600, ext. 6789.

Please do not contact the help line to expedite activation. For proof of status for schools, see “More information” below.

Your primary-care provider (PCP) (any resident of Canada)

If you identified a primary-care provider (e.g., family doctor, nurse practitioner) at registration, your result will be sent to them. Please allow at least 72 hours before calling them.

By email or phone (if you are unable to access your results using the above options)

If you are having difficulties with any of the above methods and it has been more than four days since your test, you can email testinginquiries@cheo.on.ca or call 613-737-7600, ext. 6720.

Please be sure to include your child’s full name and date of birth, along with how we can best reach you.

Do I need to self-isolate?

For latest guidance on what to do after testing, including when to end your isolation, read through this handout from OPH:

Tested, what now?

More information

For more information, including school forms (a form to help parents communicate with schools regarding their child’s testing), resources for self-care and mental health and more, visit the Ottawa Public Health website.

Cartoon of COVID virus and testing swab

Virtual care

Learn more about virtual care at CHEO

Many clinics at CHEO are offering telephone and video appointments in some cases.

To learn more, or prepare for your upcoming virtual clinic visit or emergency department visit, visit our Virtual Care page.

Virtual care at CHEO

Hands holding an iPad with the CHEO website on it

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and preventing the spread of infection

Frequently asked questions

What is PPE?

PPE (personal protective equipment) is the special masks, gloves and gowns worn by staff to keep viruses from spreading. Because PPE covers up the big smiles of our CHEO team, some children and youth might need help to understand why PPE is being worn. Watch our video, the Superheroes behind the masks, to learn more.

Are you accepting PPE donations?

If you're intererested in donating PPE, please visit 613 PPE Donations.

If you have a 3D printer and are able to help make face masks and other PPE, visit Ottawa Maker Community.

Hand sanitizer and hard surface disinfectants

Proper hand sanitizer and disinfectant use can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others. Check out Health Canada's tips and guidelines on when and how to properly use hand sanitizers and hard surface disinfectants.

My child isn't used to seeing people in masks and gowns, how can I help reassure them?

Cartoon of a person wearing a face mask, face shield and rubber gloves

Pharmacy, medications and immunizations

Frequently asked questions

How long should I refill my prescriptions for?

Our KidCare Pharmacy is still open regular business hours. Your commonly prescribed medications will continue to be available, so you only need to keep a few weeks worth of your medications on hand. Please be considerate of how much you actually need, and avoid ordering more than a month's worth of your prescription.

To make sure you continue to have access to your prescriptions, CHEO's KidCare Pharmacy is:

honouring refills for up to a month's supply.
offering free home delivery, delivery to a CHEO unit (for inpatients) or curb-side pick-up.

Should my child continue to get their routine vaccines on schedule?

Yes! All routine and toddler immunizations should continue as scheduled. This is one more way you can
keep your child safe and prevent another virus. Please call your family physician to see if they are
scheduling specific times for young or vulnerable populations to get their vaccines.

Cartoon of cough medicine and other medication

More resources

Parenting, mental health and wellness

Explaining COVID-19 to kids

What is coronavirus?

Parenting, coping and mental health

Handouts

Parenting and coping

Parenting and coping: navigating the second wave of COVID-19

Websites

Phone numbers

Tele-health: 1-866-797-0000
Distress centre: 613-238-3311
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868

Back to school

How to wear a mask at school (available in 8 languages!)

Looking for this video in a different language? It's also available in:

French

Vietnamese

Cantonese

Mandarin

Spanish

Somali

Russian

Information on take-home COVID-19 testing

CHEO and Ottawa Public Health (OPH) are offering free take-home COVID-19 testing kits for students and staff at some schools. These kits are offered to students and staff who develop symptoms of COVID-19 or are identified as a high-risk contact. The take-home test kits include a combined mouth and nose swab that a child or adult can do themselves, or that can be done by a parent/guardian or caregiver. Visit Ottawa Public Health's website for more information on take home test kits, including the ethical framework used to prioritize and distribute the kits.

More information for children, youth and families

Back to school during COVID-19: tips for parents and caregivers (August 2020) - CHEO fact sheet
COVID-19: Updated Guidance for School Operation During the Pandemic (January 2021) - SickKids, CHEO, Holland Bloorview, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, McMaster Children’s Hospital and Unity Health Toronto
COVID-19: Guidance for school reopening (August 2020) - SickKids, CHEO, Holland Bloorview, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre, McMaster Children’s Hospital and Unity Health Toronto
Back to school: Letter to parents and caregivers with CHEO's Oncology program (August 2020) - CHEO
Back to school: Letter to parents and caregivers of children and youth with sickle cell disease (August 2020) - CHEO
Back to school recommendations for children and youth with special needs (August 2020) - Holland Bloorview
Virtual town hall from September 1, 2020 for parents and caregivers of medically complex children and youth attending OCDSB and OCSB schools (audio archive)

For health care professionals

Guidance to health care professionals for children with chronic medical conditions returning to school (August 2020)

Hot topics — development and rehabilitation, fever and more

Development and rehabilitation

In response to this unprecedented time, CHEO’s Clinic for Augmentative Communication has put together the following resources for parents and their children/youth who use AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication).

From My Window is a communication display that can be placed on, or near a window with a view. The words/symbols can be used to take turns commenting on what is seen outside, with particular focus on the emergence of spring.
COVID-19 Explanation provides simply worded information, basic guidelines and positive affirmations that are supported with picture communication symbols (PCS) to aid understanding.

To all of our clients and families – we are thinking of you! Take good care, and stay well.