1. How do I book an appointment online for a COVID-19 test in the Hamilton region?

To begin booking an appointment online, please click the blue button on the HamiltonCovidTest.ca home page and answer the screening questions. These screening questions will determine if you are eligible for a COVID-19 test based on current provincial guidelines. If you are eligible for testing, you will be provided the option of available appointments to book a COVID-19 test.

Follow the instructions to book an appointment online for your COVID-19 test, and provide your email address if you would like to receive a confirmation email. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment, call (905) 974-9848, press 2 to transfer to the COVID Support Service Centre operated by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.

Appointments are spread out evenly to promote physical distancing and allow for proper cleaning protocols.

2. Confirmation Emails

A confirmation email should have been sent to the email address you provided upon scheduling in the appointment was successfully booked.

Please ensure that you check your ‘Junk’ folder in your email account for the confirmation email. Additionally, please confirm that the following email account has been added to your ‘Safe Senders’ list: donotreply@mydovetale.ca.

3. How do I cancel my COVID-19 test appointment online?

If you wish to cancel your COVID-19 test appointment online, please complete this form. 

4. Who can book an appointment for a COVID-19 test online?

Anyone 12 years of age and up can book an appointment online. You can help someone book an appointment online on their behalf with their consent. Parents/legal guardians must book appointments for children under 12 years of age. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment, call (905) 974-9848, press 2 to transfer to the COVID Support Service Centre operated by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.

5. What information do I need to provide in order to book an appointment online for a COVID-19 test?

People booking an appointment online will be asked to provide personal health information including your name, birth date, address, phone number and other demographic information. The personal health information provided is securely stored and accessed by authorized individuals to provide care and manage the program.

6. What if there are no appointments available online to book a COVID-19 test?

We thank you for your patience and understanding while trying to book your appointment. Demand for appointments at COVID-19 testing and assessment centres in Hamilton is high and we are sorry if there are no appointments available to book online. Appointments are required to ensure public and staff safety at testing and assessment centres and to ensure people with COVID-19 symptoms are tested as soon as possible. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment, call (905) 974-9848, press 2 to transfer to the COVID Support Service Centre operated by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. We encourage you to share more information about your concern by filling out an online form here.

7. Can I use my smartphone or tablet or computer to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test online?

Yes you can use a smartphone, tablet or computer with an internet connection to book an appointment online for a COVID-19 test.

8. When are appointments available for booking online to receive a COVID-19 test?

Visit the Hamilton Public Health Services website to view the list of testing and assessment centres, including their hours of operations.

1. Can I book an appointment for a child? Can I accompany my child to their COVID-19 test?

Yes, parents/legal guardians can book an appointment online for a child to receive a COVID-19 test. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied to their appointment by a parent/legal guardian. 

2. What if I need to book an appointment for more than one person or multiple family members?

Each person requires their own separate appointment time. Only one COVID-19 test can be taken during a single appointment time slot. If you are booking for more than one person who requires COVID-19 testing (for example, family members from a household), please book an appointment for each person, in separate time slots. 

For families, or parents/legal guardians requiring attending appointments together, please book appointments on the same day and staff at the testing site will do their best to accommodate your family. Please see below under 'Technical support' if you need to book for a family greater than 8. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment, call (905) 974-9848, press 2 to transfer to the COVID Support Service Centre operated by St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.

Children under three (3) months of age requiring a COVID test must go to the Emergency Department at McMaster Children's Hospital to be assessed and be tested. The Emergency Department at McMaster Children's Hospital is open 24 hours a day and located at 1200 Main St. West, Hamilton. ​Please do not book a COVID test online for a child under three (3) months of age. 

Please call your healthcare provider if you have questions about testing a child under three (3) months of age for COVID-19.  

1. Why do I need to answer screening questions before booking an appointment?

When you book an appointment online you will be asked to complete screening questions to determine if you are eligible for a COVID-19 test based on current provincial guidelines, which recommend that low risk, asymptomatic individuals should not be considered for testing. If you are not eligible for a COVID-19 test, please continue to follow public health guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread in our community.

2. When I answered the screening questions, why was I told I was not eligible for a COVID-19 test?

The screening questions you are required to answer when you book an appointment are to determine if you are eligible for a COVID-19 test based on current provincial guidelines. If you are not eligible for a COVID-19 test, please continue to follow public health guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread in our community. 

3. When did you stop providing asymptomatic individuals with a COVID-19 test?

On September 24, 2020, the provincial government announced that the Ontario testing guidelines were updated to prioritize those who are at the greatest risk, while shifting away from asymptomatic testing. Following this announcement, our appointment booking system was updated to provide appointments only to those who meet provincial eligibility criteria for testing. View the announcement from September 24th 2020 here. 

4. Are you going to honour appointments for asymptomatic individuals who have already booked but no longer meet eligibility criteria according to the updated provincial guidelines?

Yes, all appointments booked will be honoured but we will no longer be booking appointments for those who do not meet eligibility criteria based on current provincial guidelines.

1. When should I arrive for my COVID-19 test?

Please arrive on time for your COVID-19 test appointment. Please do not arrive early for your COVID-19 test appointment. Appointments are spread out evenly to promote physical distancing and allow for proper cleaning protocols.

2. Do you need to pay for a COVID-19 test?

No one will be charged for a COVID-19 test in Hamilton.

1. Where do I find my test results or more information about self-isolating?

Visit Hamilton Public Health Services to learn how to access your COVID-19 test results.

For more information from Hamilton Public Health Services about COVID-19, click here. 

1. Accessing the booking tool

Ensure your internet browser can access the booking tool by:

• Turning off your ad-blocker or add site to safe list
• Using a modern browser, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge (Chromium Version), FireFox or Safari
• Ensuring your smart phone or device is up-to-date

2. Date of Birth

When entering in your date of birth, please entering it in as follows:

dd/mm/yyyy (including the slashes)

3. Confirmation emails

A confirmation email should have been sent to the email address you provided upon scheduling in the appointment was successfully booked.

Please ensure that you check your ‘Junk’ folder in your email account for the confirmation email. Additionally, please confirm that the following email account has been added to your ‘Safe Senders’ list: donotreply@mydovetale.ca.

4. Booking for a family larger than 8

A person can book up to and including 8 appointments for 8 different people per browser session. In order to create a new browser session, you can:

• Open an incognito window using Google Chrome.
• Open a different browser. Options include Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
• Clear the cache in the current browsing session (delete the browsing history – delete everything).
• Additionally, you can book appointments from different devices.