Coronavirus (COVID-19)
CVMA-ACMV

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

PLEASE VISIT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND ARTICLES

We have entered an unprecedented time in our country’s history due to various threats posed by COVID-19. 

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) wants to reassure members that their national association, in coordination with provincial veterinary medical associations and regulatory bodies, is in continuous contact with federal agencies, such as the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), to bring veterinarians the most current information to protect their clients, teams, and families. 

During this time, we ask that you keep these three key messages in mind:

  1. There is no evidence that pets play a role in transmitting the COVID-19 to humans
  2. Social distancing and proper hygiene measures are critically important for everyone including clients, patients, and the veterinary team
  3. Pay attention to wellness (mental health) for you and others - the veterinary team and clients

Is There Coverage For Losses Related To Covid-19?

Many of our clients have inquired whether their policy would cover them in the event of a business interruption related to COVID-19. The short answer is that there is generally no coverage under most insurance policies for losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. Each case may be different so please reach out to your Insurance Advisor for more details about your specific circumstance.

What Support Is Available For Canadian Businesses?

The Government of Canada has announced a variety of supports for Canadian businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about these support initiatives available please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html.

CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series – Navigating through COVID-19 

The current COVID –19 pandemic continues to be a major disruption to veterinarians and their clients. Although our profession has adjusted, the situation is dynamic, and more questions and concerns will arise as we move towards recovery and renewal in the weeks ahead.

With this in mind, the CVMA has initiated a weekly “Townhall” Webinar series aimed at all members of the Canadian veterinary community, offering guidance, answering questions, and addressing concerns.  

Animals in Canada 

(Updated July 24, 2020)

This section includes information about:

  • Risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people
  • Pets and COVID-19
  • How to keep your pets safe
  • Livestock and COVID-19
  • How to protect your livestock
  • Tests for COVID-19 in animals
  • Vaccine against COVID-19 for animals
  • Animals recently imported from affected areas
  • Availability of animal health products in relation to COVID-19
  • Additional information and guidance for veterinarians
  • COVID-19 and animals held in zoos 
  • COVID-19 and Animals in Shelters and Shelter Medicine: Resource


UPDATED: COVID-19 and Animals FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR VETERINARIANS

Economic, Financial, and Business Resources

This section includes information about:

  • Weekly COVID Impact Tracker
  • Relevant Presentations and Q&As
  • Canada Emergency Bank Account (CEBA)
  • Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
  • 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy
  • Canadian Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program
  • Relevant Government Links
  • Additional Resources

Essential Services

Various levels of government are considering a mandatory shutdown of all “non-essential” services to limit community spread of the disease. The CVMA holds that veterinary practices and all veterinary services including where animals are housed for research purposes provide “essential” services to Canadians given that veterinary medicine is critical for public health, agri-food safety, pharmaceutical stewardship, and animal health and welfare. We have shared our view with government authorities.

Please refer to Dr. Scott Weese's, Chief of Infection Control at the Ontario Veterinary College, blog post on Veterinary medicine, essential services and social distancing for more information. 

Please also read the CVMA's advisory on COVID-19 - Guidelines for Elective Services and Social Distancing.

Personal Protective Equipment 

The CVMA is also aware of the current shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks and gloves in veterinary practices. CVMA is in discussions with various government bodies regarding this issue and will inform you as information becomes available. In the meantime, please refer to advice provided by Dr. Scott Weese, Chief of Infection Control at the Ontario Veterinary College, in his Worms and Germs blog post. Please also keep in mind regulations set forth by your provincial regulatory body.

Telemedicine

Additional Resources

Documents

DateDocument
08-06-2020Weekly COVID-19 Impact Tracker - Week 11
08-06-2020Recommendations for the Epidemiological Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission to Farmed and Companion Animals in Contact with COVID-19 Infected Humans
08-06-2020Risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at the humananimal interface: what is known so far?
07-30-2020More on SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Animals
07-28-2020COVID-19 Detection Dogs
07-24-2020COVID-19 and Animals in Canada: Updated July 24, 2020
07-24-2020Exposure of humans or Animals to SARS-CoV-2 from Wild, Livestock, Companion and Aquatic Animals
07-16-2020COVID-19 and Animals ... Odds and Ends
07-16-2020Exposure of Humans or Animals to SARS-CoV-2 from Wild, Livestock, Companion and Aquatic Animals
07-16-2020AVMA Flowchart Provides Guidance for Social Distancing in Veterinary Practices
07-16-2020Ask an Expert: Confronting COVID-19 Myths
07-16-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week 10
07-14-2020Results of the National COVID-19 Survey
07-13-2020Advice for Essential Retailers during COVID-19 Pandemic
07-07-2020SARS-CoV-2, Masks and Fomites
06-30-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week Nine
06-26-2020Epidemiology & Clinical Management of COVID-19: Update 31
06-26-2020Recorded Webinar: CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series: Post COVID-19 Reopening & Recovery – the Business Realities of Running a Veterinary Hospital (Week 8)
06-26-2020RAPID QUALITATIVE RISK ASSESSMENT: SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Farmed Mink
06-26-2020UPDATED: COVID-19 and Animals FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR VETERINARIANS
06-22-2020Recorded Webinar: CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series: A Canadian Update, a Review of SARS-CoV-2 in Animals, Clinic Precautions, & an Industry Update (Week 7)
06-19-2020Next Round of COVID-19 Odds and Ends
06-18-2020Canadian Veterinary Industry Visitation Guidelines
06-18-2020Reopening Post COVID-19 FAQs
06-15-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week Eight
06-09-2020Questions & Answers: Legal Perspectives & Practice Management During COVID-19 (CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series Week 5)
06-06-2020Veterinary COVID-19 Infection Control Q&A
06-06-2020CVMA COVID-19 Survey Results
06-05-2020COVID-19 Scent-Detection Dogs
06-05-2020Recorded Webinar: CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series: A COVID-19 in Animals Update and Practical Advice for Clinics (Week 6)
06-04-2020COVID-19 Cat: Minnesota
06-04-2020Risk mitigation tool for workplaces/businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic
06-04-2020COVID-19: New requirements for people entering Canada
06-04-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week Seven
06-03-2020More Dutch Mink with COVID-19
06-02-2020New Feline SARS-CoV-2 Experimental Infection Study
05-29-2020More COVID-19 Odds and Ends
05-29-2020N95 Masks with Exhalation Valves, Part 2
05-29-2020Presentation Slides: A Physician’s Viewpoint on COVID-19: Lessons Learned on the Front Lines at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto
05-29-2020Recorded Webinar - A Physician’s Viewpoint on COVID-19: Lessons Learned on the Front Lines at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto
05-28-2020Minister Ng Announces Hotline To Provide Small Businesses In Need With Financial Planning Advice Amid COVID-19
05-28-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week Six
05-28-2020Veterinary Clinic Staff Cohorting
05-28-2020Recorded Webinar: CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series Week 5: Legal Perspectives and Practice Management During COVID-19
05-27-20208 Domains of Well-Being ... COVID-19 Style! Week 8: Spiritual Well-Being
05-27-2020Guidelines to Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Livestock Production and Animal Health
05-26-2020Dutch Mink Farm COVID-19 Update
05-25-2020CVMA In Partnership With Scotiabank Is Here To Support You And Your Business
05-25-20208 Domains of Well-Being ... COVID-19 Style! Week 7: Occupational Well-Being
05-25-2020Recorded Webinar: CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series: Recovering from COVID – What this Means for Your Practice (Week Four)
05-25-2020Mental Health Services At Your Fingertips – A Timely Reminder
05-25-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week Five
05-21-2020A Physician’s Viewpoint on COVID-19: Lessons Learned on the Front Lines at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto (May 28)
05-20-2020Suspected Mink-to-Human Transmission of SARS-CoV-2
05-20-2020COVID-19 Is Affecting Our Lives in Almost Every Way, Including How We Care For Our Pets (video)
05-19-2020Dogs, Cats, Mink: A Dutch Menagerie of SARS-CoV-2 Cases
05-15-2020COVID-19 in Animals … A Few Updates
05-14-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week Four
05-14-2020COVID-19 Experimental Infection in Cats
05-14-2020Recorded Webinar: CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series - SARS-CoV-2 in Animals, Recovery Planning, and Industry Relationships (Week Three)
05-13-2020Recorded Webinar: CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series - An Update on COVID-19 in Animals & a Look Ahead at Social Distancing During Recovery (Week Two)
05-13-20208 Domains of Well-Being ... COVID-19 Style! Week 6
05-13-2020Rapid Qualitative Risk Assessment: SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Companion Animals
05-12-2020Infection and Infection Control During COVID-19 - Information for Canadian Animal Shelters (Dr. Scott Weese Webinar, May 15)
05-12-2020WVAC2020: Closing Event - May 15, 2020 - COVID-19 LIVE Panel Session (Free Registration)
05-12-2020Occupational Exposure Risks with COVID-19
05-11-2020WHO Academy’s New COVID-19 Mobile Learning App
05-11-2020Update: Interim Guidance for Laboratories Testing Animals for SARS-CoV-2
05-11-2020CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series: SARS-CoV-2 in Animals, Recovery Planning, and Industry Relationships (Week Three)
05-11-2020The Impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA)
05-11-2020The New Normal: Getting Back to Work During the Pandemic (HRdownlaods webinar - May 21)
05-11-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week Three
05-08-2020WVA - COVID-19 LIVE Panel Session
05-08-2020AAFC - Workplace Guidance for Sector Employers and Employees
05-08-2020COVID-19 in a cat: Spain
05-08-20208 Domains of Well-Being ... COVID-19 Style! Week 5
05-07-2020Scott Weese COVID-19 Webinar for Canadian Shelters May 15 - Pre-Webinar Survey
05-07-2020The CVMA Understands The Concerns You Have About Your Animals During This Challenging Time (video)
05-07-2020CAHI COVID-19 in Companion Animals Seminar - A CAHI Information-Sharing Webinar
05-07-2020Council of Chief Veterinary Officers Position Statement: Testing of Animals for SARS-CoV-2
05-07-2020Interim Guidance for Laboratories Testing Animals for SARS-CoV-2
05-06-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week Two
05-06-2020Looking Towards Expanding Veterinary Care During COVID-19: Ontario
05-06-2020Recorded Webinar: CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series – Navigating through COVID-19 (Week One)
05-06-2020Weekly COVID Impact Tracker - Week One
05-05-2020Webinar - Winning at the Long Game: Workplace Mental Health Policies are the Way Forward (May 8)
05-04-2020NEW! COVID-19 and Animals - Frequently Asked Questions for Veterinarians
05-04-2020CVMA’s Veterinary Townhall Series – An Update on COVID-19 in Animals & a Look Ahead at Social Distancing During Recovery - Week 2
05-01-20208 Domains of Well-Being ... COVID-19 Style! Week 3
05-01-2020COVID-19 in animals: Odds and ends
05-01-2020COVID-19 and Veterinary Dentistry
05-01-2020RVTTC Open Letter to Pet Owners (video)
05-01-20208 Domains of Well-Being ... COVID-19 Style! Week 4
04-30-2020Curated COVID-19 Resources and Webinars - University of Toronto
04-30-2020Companion Animals and COVID-19: A COVID-19 Response Information Sharing Webinar (May 1)
04-30-2020WHO Survey on Health and Safety of Health Workers in COVID-19
04-29-2020COVID-19 and endangered animals
04-28-2020COVID-19 modelling and the impact of releasing cats
04-26-2020COVID-19 in mink: The Netherlands
04-24-2020Pets and COVID-19 fears
04-24-2020Practical ways to help vets during COVID-19
04-23-2020COVID-19 - Recommendations for Heartworm Testing and Prescribing Heartworm Preventives for Dogs in Ontario
04-23-2020Recommendations for Shelter Veterinarians: Testing for COVID-19
04-22-2020COVID-19 in a lion, Bronx Zoo
04-22-2020COVID-19 and cats: Update on lion and pet cats in New York
04-21-2020COVID-19 CAHI Information Sharing Webinar Resources (April 9, 2020)
04-19-2020COVID-19 infected cats: New York
04-18-2020New COVID-19 Research Updates
04-17-2020COVID-19: FAQs for Pet Owners
04-17-2020Merck Animal Health Sponsors IMLocum and Gives Clinics Access to their Services Free of Charge until June 30th, 2020
04-17-2020COVID-19 Telemedicine Q&As
04-16-2020Spay/neuter and TNR During COVID-19: Information for Canadian Animal Shelters (April 17)
04-16-2020Steps to help prevent the next COVID-19: Proposed changes to animal farming rules in China
04-16-2020Webinar: COVID-19 and Companion Animals – What We Know Today (April 17)
04-16-20208 Domains of Well-Being ... COVID-19 Style! Week 2
04-15-2020COVID-19 and Animals - Frequently Asked Questions for Veterinarians
04-15-2020Keeping Canadians and Workers in the Food Supply Chain Safe
04-15-2020A rapid review of evidence of infection of pets and livestock with humanassociated coronavirus diseases, SARS, MERS, and COVID-19, and evidence of the fomite potential of pets and livestock
04-15-2020Recorded Webinar: Navigating Financial Implications of the COVID-19 Crisis on Veterinary Medicine in Canada
04-15-2020Ontario Shelter Medicine Association - Q&A: Can My Pet Catch or Transmit the COVID-19 Virus?
04-15-2020Animal Welfare During a Pandemic: Drs. Scott Weese & Ian Sandler discuss the Health & Well-Being of Pets, & how Veterinary Services are Adapting to the Ever-Evolving Pandemic
04-14-2020SARS-CoV-2 in animals: To test or not to test
04-14-2020SARS-CoV-2 and a canine origin? Seems unlikely
04-14-2020COVID-19 Recorded Webinar: What is Veterinary Telemedicine? A Q&A Session
04-09-2020COVID-19: Social Distancing - Poster
04-09-20202nd SARS-Cov-2 Positive Dog in Hong Kong: Update
04-09-2020Dermatology Practice and Social Distancing
04-09-2020CVMA National Issues Committee Member, Dr. Ian Sandler speaks to 580 CFRA about COVID-19 in animals.
04-09-2020Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals to SARS–coronavirus 2
04-09-2020COVID-19: What Employers Need to Consider
04-09-2020COVID-19: Coronavirus Memo for Workers
04-09-2020COVID-19: Preventative Measures List
04-09-2020Ward & Uptigrove PPT: Navigating the Financial Implications of the COVID-19 Crisis
04-09-2020COVID-19 Breakeven Fixed Costs Excel Sheet
04-09-20208 Domains of Well-Being ... COVID-19 Style!
04-09-2020AVMA - COVID-19 Social Tools
04-09-2020COVID-19: Business Contingency Plan
04-09-2020COVID-19: Work Refusal
04-09-2020COVID-19: Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers - Excel Workbook
04-08-2020Merck Manuals COVID-19 Information and Resources
04-08-2020Recorded Webinar: Staying Psychologically Safe in the face of COVID-19
04-08-2020New COVID Council Webinar featuring Dr. Scott Weese - April 9
04-08-2020Another SARS-CoV-2 Experimental Study
04-08-2020Preventing and Responding to COVID-19 in Meat Slaughter and Processing Establishments
04-07-2020Routine mask use in vet clinics?
04-07-2020CAHI COVID-19 Response Information Sharing Webinar with CVMA Updates - April 9, 2020
04-07-2020SARS-CoV-2 in cats: Wuhan, China
04-07-2020Telemedicine Guidance Document | Economics and Telemedicine Webinars Reminder
04-06-2020COVID-19 Webinar: Information for Canadian Animal Shelters
04-06-2020Dr. Ian Sandler, member of the CVMA's National Issues Committee, speaks to Global News Radio about COVID-19 and your pets
04-06-2020CVMA Economics Webinar: Navigating the Financial Implications of the COVID-19 Crisis on Vet Medicine - April 8, 2020
04-06-2020CVMA COVID-19 Webinar: What is Veterinary Telemedicine? A Q&A Session - April 8, 2020
04-06-2020CVMA Veterinary Telemedicine Guidelines
04-03-2020PSA: Veterinarians are Here for You during the COVID-19 Pandemic
04-02-2020Pets of People With COVID-19: What To Do If The Owner Can’t Care For Them?
04-02-2020Coronavirus Can Infect Cats — Dogs, Not So Much
04-02-2020Presentation - COVID-19 Legal Perspectives: Workplace Issues
04-02-2020Information Update on Veterinary Antimicrobial Sales Reporting for the Year 2019 - from the Veterinary Drugs Directorate
04-02-2020Recorded Webinar - COVID-19 Legal Perspectives: Workplace Issues
04-01-2020Recording Available: COVID-19 in Veterinary and Animal Group Settings: Protecting People and Animals
04-01-2020SARS-CoV-2 in Dogs, Cats and Ferrets ... A New Experimental Study
04-01-2020In Times When Social Distancing is Required the CVMA WebStore – MyVetStore.ca is Here to Support You
03-31-2020Social Distancing and Vet Clinics: A Video
03-31-2020Canine Coronavirus Disease - VCA
03-31-2020World Health Organization: COVID-19 Update 20
03-31-2020NEW! CVMA: COVID-19 and Animals - FAQs for Veterinarians
03-31-2020Preventing and Responding to COVID-19 in Meat Slaughter and Processing Establishments
03-30-2020Social Distancing WITHIN Veterinary Clinics
03-30-2020COVID-19 and Ferrets
03-27-2020Mental Health Webinar: Staying Psychologically Safe in the Face of COVID-19
03-27-2020British Veterinary Association: Guidance for Veterinary Practices in Assessing Emergency and Urgent Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
03-26-2020Mobile Vets and COVID-19
03-26-2020Update: PHAC Information on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
03-25-2020AAHA’s COVID-19 Response
03-25-2020VIN COVID-19 Information Center
03-25-2020Canadian Council on Animal Care - Updates Concerning COVID-19
03-25-2020The CFIA is prioritizing critical activities during COVID-19 pandemic
03-25-2020Advice for Companion Animal Practitioners During the COVID-19 Outbreak
03-25-2020Personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages in veterinary medicine
03-24-2020CVMA: COVID-19 - Guidelines for Elective Services and Social Distancing
03-24-2020The OIE Responds to Questions on COVID-19
03-23-2020CVMA: COVID-19 - NEW! Government of Canada Information including Guidance on Humans and Animals, and Food
03-23-2020CALAM/ACMAL National Teleconference: COVID-19 - March 25, 2020
03-23-2020In an effort to assist with some new business challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CVMA in partnership with HRdownloads is here to support you
03-22-2020Wanted: Hydrogen peroxide and glycerol
03-22-2020COVID-19: Ventilators for Use in Human Medicine?
03-21-2020COVID-19 Information for California Veterinarians
03-21-2020Veterinary Clinics Named Essential Service in PEI
03-21-2020Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) - Information for industry
03-20-2020COVID-19: What we don’t know (but that doesn’t mean we can’t do something)
03-20-2020Advice for pet owners for visiting your vet during the COVID-19 outbreak
03-20-2020Global Veterinary Surgery: ‘No evidence that COVID-19 can be contracted from pets’
03-19-20207 everyday ways to adapt veterinary practice during the pandemic
03-19-2020Health Canada Application and Notification Form for Exceptional Release of Disinfectant and Sanitizing Products
03-19-2020NAVC - The Coronavirus and Pets
03-19-2020How to Prepare Your Farm for COVID-19
03-19-2020CVMA: Preventive Tips for Managing COVID-19 in the Clinic
03-19-2020Flattening the curve: How clinics are helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19
03-19-2020COVID-19 update: Another positive dog
03-18-2020Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): For health professionals
03-18-2020ABVMA: Veterinary Care for your Animals – COVID-19 Information
03-18-2020College of Veterinarians of Ontario Temporarily Relaxes Certain Regulations on Prescribing and Dispensing During Public Health Emergency
03-18-2020Bulletin for ABVMA Members – COVID-19
03-18-2020Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Resources for Canadian businesses
03-18-2020Social distancing and veterinary medicine: Are they compatible?
03-18-2020Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of Infection in Healthcare Settings
03-18-2020Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Awareness resources
03-18-2020OIE and WVA: COVID-19 and Veterinary Activities Designated as Essential
03-18-2020Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Guidance documents
03-17-2020NEWStat: Special COVID-19 Edition
03-17-2020LifeLearn’s Complimentary COVID-19 Response Kit
03-17-2020Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Owner Contact Guidelines
03-13-2020WHO Information Network for Epidemics: COVID-19 Update 16