Page 48 - COVID-19 Inpatient Training Resources

Outpatients

Certain asymptomatic outpatients who are coming into the hospital for elective appointments
and procedures may benefit from testing. The reason for testing codes are as follows:

Outbreak investigation

During an outbreak investigation, it is useful to test asymptomatic patients and staff to determine
where links in transmission may be occurring. Additional precautions and work restrictions may
be applied (but not necessarily) to patients and staff who are tested, depending on the level of
exposure. It may also be useful to test healthcare workers more broadly if they are working in
high risk areas outside of an outbreak setting. The reason for testing codes are as follows:

Clearance for inpatients who have recovered from COVID-19

COVID-19 is considered resolved in most patients without testing using a ‘time-based’ strategy
that considers time from symptom onset and
resolution of symptoms only. However, a ‘test-based’ strategy is still required for some
patients. Criteria for when to used time-based and test- based strategies are in the policy:
COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control Protocol for COVID-19 including required
PPE and duration of precautions (Unity Health Toronto)

When a test-based strategy is required, it should be performed 14 days after symptom onset if