The College has been actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. For current and reliable information the College encourages you to refer to Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Public Health Ontario and the Public Health Agency of Canada. At this time, following infection control best practice is paramount. Visit our website for quick links and updates. College COVID-19 Resource Page.

We appreciate that physiotherapists play an important role in the health care system and acknowledge that providing physiotherapy at this time does put patients, and physiotherapists, at risk. There are also risks to patients in not providing care to consider.

Public Health has strongly encouraged the use of widespread social distancing in all public settings. While the College will not be mandating the withdrawal of physiotherapy services at this time, we support physiotherapists in taking all necessary measures to ensure their patients and their own safety.  

We want you to know that if a physiotherapist decides to close their practice, that is their personal choice and their College supports that decision. We understand that continuing to provide care to patients at this time may be impossible for you.  

We ask you to use your professional judgement to determine what services your patients may require. These decisions may depend upon your employment setting and your patient demographics. We encourage you to seek direction from your employer when making your decisions. 

This is an extraordinary situation and the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario will approach it, not as the enforcer of standards of the profession, but as a body that is focused upon the well-being and best interests of the Ontario public and our registrants. 

With this rapidly evolving situation we will strive to provide you with updates as information becomes available to us. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the College.

Sincerely,

Darryn Mandel
College President

Rod Hamilton
Registrar