The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) is a public policy and research centre based at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). The NIA is dedicated to enhancing successful ageing across the life course. It is unique in its mandate
to consider ageing issues from a broad range of perspectives, including those of financial, physical,
psychological, and social well-being.
The NIA is focused on leading cross-disciplinary, evidence-based, and actionable research to provide a blueprint
for better public policy and practices needed to address the multiple challenges and opportunities presented by
Canada’s ageing population. The NIA is committed to providing national leadership and public education to
productively and collaboratively work with all levels of government, private and public sector partners,
academic institutions, ageing-related organizations, and Canadians.
The myCOVID19VisitRisk Calculator and Decision Aid was developed by:
Director of Health Policy Research, National Institute on Ageing, Toronto Metropolitan University;
Professor of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine and Institute of Health Policy Management and
Evaluation, University of Toronto;
Director of Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and University Health Network in Toronto.
Staff Geriatrician, St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto;
Junior Research Fellow, National Institute on Ageing, Toronto Metropolitan University.
DPhil Student, University of Oxford;
Medical Student, Memorial University of Newfoundland;
Junior Research Fellow, National Institute on Ageing, Toronto Metropolitan University.
Staff Geriatrician, Sinai Health System and University Health Network in Toronto;
Research Fellow, Departments of Medicine and Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto.
President and Founder, Empower Health
Communications Specialist, National Institute on Ageing, Toronto Metropolitan University
We gratefully acknowledge the following experts who supported the development of the risk-scoring system that underpins the online calculator and decision aid – their names are listed below. None of them received compensation for their contributions.
Dr. Gerald F. Audette, PhD
Associate Professor of Chemistry, York University
Dr. Susan C. Bleasdale, MD
Infectious Diseases Specialist and Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control, UI Health;
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois
Dr. Isaac I. Bogoch, MD, FRCPC
Infectious Diseases Specialist, Toronto General Hospital , University Health Network;
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Dr. Raywat Deonandan, PhD
Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Ottawa
Dr. Vinita Dubey, MD, CCFP, FRCPC
Associate Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto
Dr. Ken Farion, MD, FRCPC
Medical Director, Quality & Systems Improvement, CHEO;
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa
Dr. Colin Furness, MISt, PhD, MPH
Infection Control Epidemiologist;
Assistant Professor of Information, University of Toronto
Dr. Dasantila Golemi-Kotra, PhD
Associate Professor of Biology, York University
Dr. Jennie Johnstone, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Infectious Diseases Specialist and Co-Director, Infection Prevention and Control, Sinai Health System;
Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
Dr. Janine McCready, MD, FRCPC
Infectious Diseases Specialist, Michael Garron Hospital; Lecturer, Department of Medicine, University of
Toronto
Dr. Allison J. McGeer, MSc, MD, FRCPC
Infectious Diseases Specialist, Sinai Health System;
Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
Dr. Dominik Mertz, MD, MSc
Infectious Diseases Specialist and Medical Director of Infection Control, Hamilton Health Sciences;
Associate Professor of Medicine, McMaster University
Dr. Andrew Morris, MD, SM(Epi), FRCPC
Infectious Diseases Specialist and Medical Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, Sinai Health and
University Health Network;
Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Dr. Laura Rosella, PhD
Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of Toronto
Dr. Michael Schull, MD, FRCPC
CEO and Senior Scientist ICES; Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
Dr. Abdu A. Sharkawy, MD, FRCPC
Infectious Diseases Specialist, University Health Network;
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Dr. Timothy Sly, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology, Toronto Metropolitan University
Dr. Thomas Tenkate, DrPH, FEHA, FRSPH
Director School of Occupational and Public Health;
Associate Professor of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University
Dr. Ashleigh Tuite, PhD
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of Toronto
The myCOVID19VisitRisk Decision Aid and Calculator provides individuals with a mechanism to assess their level of risk
(acquiring and/or death) from COVID-19. Based on the chosen criteria such as age, sex, and pre-existing health
conditions, and visit considerations, a risk category of low, moderate, high, or very high will be given.
General
expert-informed public health guidance on how to visit more safely with others is accompanied with all risk
assessment results.
There is a potential for misclassification of a person’s risk since the predictive ability of the calculator and
decision aid
has not been validated and has been developed based on expert consensus. However, careful effort was made to
align predictions with existing scientific literature to ensure that risk scores were assigned appropriately.
Supporting literature and data analyses will be revisited at regular intervals to ensure the calculator and
decision aid
remains relevant to current findings and literature. Furthermore, revisions of the calculator and decision aid
will be
considered every 3 months or if new predictors emerge, current predictors are no longer significant, and/or
actual hospitalization and death rates change significantly, whichever comes first.
If you have any additional questions/comments, or find any errors, please do not hesitate to contact us.
In addition to the Terms and Conditions linked at the bottom of this page, you are further advised of the following:
The content on this website and the recommendations provided by the COVID-19 Visit Risk Calculator and Decision Aid (the "Tool") are for informational purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The National Institute on Ageing at Toronto Metropolitan University disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of the Tool or any resulting recommendations or information. If you have any
specific questions about the risks associated with contracting or spreading COVID-19, you should seek the advice
of your doctor or other qualified health professional. You should never disregard professional medical advice or
public health recommendations discontinue medical treatment, or delay seeking medical advice, because of
something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your primary care
provider.
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.