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UHN has joined other Ontario hospitals in moving to a No Visitor policy, with exceptions on compassionate grounds and other special safety needs. This includes, no companions or family members for clinic and other treatment appointments without obtaining prior approval from the unit or clinic manager. This extremely difficult decision has been made to protect the safety of patients and health care workers.

COVID-19 Cases at UHN

Number of patients being cared for on an intensive care unit: 20
Number of patients being cared for on an inpatient unit: 13

Total number of COVID-19 cases at UHN hospitals: 33

Last Updated: April 6, 2020

UHN Toronto Western COVID-19 Assessment Centre

Location: 347 Bathurst St., on the northeast corner of Bathurst and Dundas St.

  • Before coming to the Assessment Centre, check the self-assessment tool at https://covid19toronto.ca or call TeleHealth Ontario at 1 866 797 0000.
  • Open 7 days a week, 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

You do not need an appointment.

Hospital Entrances and Access Information

UHN is now screening all patients and visitors before they come into the hospital buildings. Please see entrance hours below.

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

  • University Avenue entrance: Open Monday to Friday, 7:00 am – 6:00 pm. Badge access only after 6:00 pm and weekends.
  • Murray Avenue entrance: Open all-hours, including weekends.
  • Connection between Mt. Sinai and Princess Margaret will remain open.
Toronto Rehab
  • University Centre: Elm Street entrance will be open.
  • Other Toronto Rehab sites: One entrance will be open. 
  • Note – Lakeside Centre is closed to visitors.
Toronto General

  • University Avenue: Staff access only. Card access after 11:00 pm. Patients with after-hours imaging appointments can buzz in.
  • Elizabeth Street: Open 6:00 am – 11:00 pm. Card access only after 11:00 pm.
  • Gerrard Street entrance: Open for patients only 6:00 am – 11:00 pm.
  • Connection between MaRS Discovery District and TGH will be closed, including the access through to the Queen's Park TTC station.
  • Peter Munk Parking Garage:
    • 6:00 am – 11:00 pm, Monday to Friday: Patients and visitors must exit and enter through the pedestrian door to Gerrard Street and then enter the hospital from one of the main entrances for screening of patients and visitors.
    • When leaving, you will need to come back into the garage from Gerrard Street and drive out of the garage before 11:00 pm — the pedestrian door will be locked at 11:00 pm.
    • After 11:00 pm: Please use the Elizabeth Street parking garage.
Toronto Western
  • Leonard Street entrance: Staff access only. Open from 7:00 am – 7:00 pm. Card access after-hours and weekends. Staff only on weekends.
  • Nassau Street entrance: Monday to Friday from 6:00 am – 9:00 pm. Weekends from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm.
  • Bathurst Street entrance: Monday to Friday from 6:00 am – 9:00 pm. Weekends from 7:00 am – 9:00 pm.
  • Krembil Discovery Tower entrance at 60 Leonard: Open 6:00 am – 10:00 pm. After-hours access will not change.
  • Hallway connection between Toronto Western and the Krembil Discovery Tower will be closed.

Information for Patients
visitors
donate and support
Patient Education Resources
Changes to Appointments, Tests & Procedures
Changes to Hospital Services, Amenities & Events
Public Health Resources
General Information
Updates for our Learners
Updates for our Research Participants

COVID Research Innovation Fund

Call for proposals to help frontline staff protect themselves and manage patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This $2.5M initiative is funded by the Sinai Health System - University Health Network Academic Medical Organization.
Deadline: April 9, 2020.

Research Innovation Fund Details

Information for Patients

Please do not come to the hospital for a clinic appointment, test or other procedure if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose

Find a list of all our clinics, tests, and procedures »

If you have one or more of these symptoms, call your clinic. Talk to the staff about:

  • Whether you need to come to the hospital
  • Rescheduling your appointment
  • Any concerns you have with delays in your care
Frequently Asked Questions Answered for Patients

When people come together, the risk of infection with COVID-19 increases. To lower the chances of COVID-19 for our patients and staff, we will be cancelling some clinic visits for patients who are currently well, and are coming to UHN for routine check-ups or other non-urgent reasons. These appointments will be rebooked for a later date.

Depending on the reason for your appointment, your health care team may offer you a "virtual" visit. This will only be offered as an option if it is safe to do so. This could be a phone call, or a video chat. Clinic staff may ask you what technology you have access to and are comfortable using. Please let them know if you have any concerns.

Surgeries will continue as planned for now. Surgeries that are needed to save a life will go ahead, but other surgeries may be cancelled in the near future. If you have any questions about an upcoming surgery please call your surgeon's office to speak with a member of the care team.

We are screening all patients and visitors before they come into the hospital buildings. There may be line-ups. Please come earlier than you normally do to be sure you have time for screening questions and to make your appointment on time.

When you come to the hospital, staff will ask you why you are at the hospital and if you have any of the above symptoms.

Patients who have any of these symptoms will be asked to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer. We will take you to your appointment, where we will talk about options for your care.

Visitors will be turned away if they show any symptoms during the screening process.

Yes. At this time, there is no change to our service animal policy. Please bring any documentation you have about your service animal with you in case you are asked to show it during screening to enter the hospital. Please note emotional support animals and personal pets will not be permitted.

Some areas may be closed off to animals in the future, as the situation changes.

You can read more about our service animal policy here:

There has been a lot of confusing information circulating in the media about the need for the general public to wear masks to protect themselves.

N95 respirator masks

  • N95 respirator masks require a special fit testing to be sure they are the right size to be effective.
  • UHN staff are regularly fit-tested for these masks and use them for providing care when needed.
  • These masks are not intended for use by patients, visitors or the public. If they are not properly tested and sized, they are not considered effective.

Procedure or surgical masks

  • UHN provides masks to patients if needed based on their symptoms to prevent spreading infection, or if it is part of our regular procedure.
  • It is not necessary for the general public to wear procedure or surgical masks to prevent infection.
  • UHN does not provide masks to the general public or visitors, with the exception of those visiting a patient on an inpatient unit who has been placed on special precautions due to an infection. In this case, all of the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) you need will be available on the unit. 

Virtual Visits at UHN

During a virtual visit you do not come to the hospital to meet in person. You speak with your care team using a regular telephone, smartphone or your computer.

We are using virtual visits more often at UHN to reduce how many people come to the hospital. This is to protect our patients, staff and the community from the spread of COVID-19. Virtual visits are not new. UHN and health care teams across Ontario have been using virtual visits for some time through the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN).

Your health care team talks to you about your current health status, any symptoms you are experiencing and your needs. If your care team feels that an in-person visit is needed instead of a virtual visit, they will discuss your options and next steps with you.

Your care team may call you to discuss changing your upcoming appointment to a virtual visit.

  • They will talk to you about options for virtual care. This may include offering a regular telephone call or a video call using a system called OTN.
  • They will give you instructions on how to prepare.
  • They will also ask for your verbal consent for the upcoming appointment.
  • They will let you know the day and time of your virtual visit and confirm they have your preferred contact information. The decision on which type of virtual visit you have will be made based on your care needs and the technology you and the clinic have access to.

Telephone visit

  • Your care team will call you on the phone at the scheduled time.
  • You and your care team talk about how you’re feeling, your questions and next steps in your care plan.

Video (audiovisual) visit using OTN

UHN uses a secure video conferencing tool provided by Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) for video calls. OTN is funded and fully supported by the Government of Ontario to enable people to receive care at home.

What to expect using OTN

  • Your care team calls you on your smartphone or computer using the OTN video system at the scheduled time.
  • You and your care team talk about how you’re feeling, your questions and next steps in your care plan.
  • If you have trouble with the video system, your care team will call your telephone number instead.

Is OTN safe and private?

  • OTN is secure and private (encrypted).
  • Personal health information discussed during the virtual visit is not stored or kept in any way by OTN.
  • If you agree to participate in a virtual visit, UHN will need to provide your name and email address to OTN. Your care team will schedule your virtual visit with OTN.
  • You get an email from do-not-reply-otninvite@otn.ca
    • Do not reply to the email or send the video conference link or appointment email to anyone.
  • This email contains your care provider’s name and the date and time of your virtual visit.
  • It will also have a link to access your appointment and instructions on using OTN.

Please call your care provider’s office if you have any questions regarding your OTN appointment or if you do not receive this email from OTN.

  • UHN may also send you appointment information and other general information by email or text, if you have consented to receive information in this way.
  • Please do not send emails for urgent symptoms, questions or in an emergency. If you have an urgent medical issue, please call 911 or visit an Emergency Department or Urgent Care Centre.
  • Some care areas may send you a follow-up survey after your appointment by email or text. This is to help us to improve the quality of care we deliver. They should let you know about this during your appointment, so check with them that they have your preferred contact details.
    • If you receive a link to a survey and are not sure if it is coming from your care team, please call them to check before clicking on any links.

Electronic communication, including virtual visits and email, may have some risk. Third parties may take over electronic communication and introduce malware, phishing scams, or other unauthorized access.

UHN is not responsible for the security of patients’ internet service providers, email domains, personal devices or personal computers. We suggest that you use your personal email when communicating about your health and not a work email address, as your employer may have the right to inspect your work email.

Use a secure internet connection. Do not use a public internet connection such as at the airport internet café, public library or other open area. Other people may be able to use the link to listen in on your appointment without you knowing.

For more information on how to protect yourself against security risks associated with electronic communication, read this article on UHN.ca: Don’t let a phishing attack reel you in.

Protecting your privacy

Your privacy is very important to us at UHN. We protect your privacy during virtual visits in the same way as we do during a clinic visit.

This means:

  • Only the people providing care to you will be present during your appointment.
  • Our discussion during the visit in your health record, just like an inperson appointment would be.

We suggest that you take similar steps to protect your own privacy. This means being aware of your surroundings and who may be able to overhear your virtual visit.

You can decline or withdraw your consent for virtual visits or communication using email or text, at any time by contacting your care provider. Please know that this may lead to delays in your care during this challenging time, as only urgent in-person appointments are being offered in our clinics right now.

Ontario Telemedicine Network
Website: https://otn.ca

UHN Privacy Office
Phone: 416 340 4800 ext. 6937

myUHN Patient Portal Support Team
Phone: 416 340 3777
Email: myuhn@uhn.ca

UHN Patient Education Resources

Patient Education and Engagement Resources

Patient Education and Engagement is dedicated to providing you with the materials and resources you need to be a well-informed patient.

General Information about our Sites

Yes. Our Emergency Departments, located at TGH and TWH, continue to provide care to those with urgent needs. All patients will be screened for COVID-19 when they arrive, and will be isolated if needed.

Our health care teams are working hard to prevent the spread of infection. Please help by respecting rules around physical distancing, hand hygiene, letting them know about your symptoms and travel history, and by properly covering your cough or sneezes.

If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing other severe symptoms, call 911 immediately. Advise them of your symptoms and any travel history.

If you have mild symptoms, do not come to the Emergency Department. Self-isolate and call your primary care provider, Telehealth Ontario, or use an online assessment tool to see if you need to be tested or how to access further care, if needed.

Hand hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of infections.

Remember to wash your hands:

  • When entering or leaving the hospital and clinical areas
  • Before eating or drinking
  • After using the washroom
  • If your hands become visibly dirty

Learn more

Yes, our outpatient pharmacies remain open.

Yes. Food courts will remain open for patients, their visitors and TeamUHN. Please pick up your food and do not sit in the food court.

In the spirit of social distancing, patients and visitors will not be able to use the UHN shuttle that travels between Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital.

Resources and Updates

Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline

If you have general questions about COVID-19 (coronavirus), or worry that you may have been exposed and aren’t sure what to do, please call the Toronto Public Health hotline. Information is available in multiple languages.

Phone: 416 338 7600
Hours*:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
Weekends: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
After-hours: call 311 and ask for Toronto Public Health

*Hours subject to change. Check the City of Toronto’s COVID-19 webpage for up-to-date information.

Resources and updates from Public Health






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