Self-Isolation

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, test positive for COVID-19, or you're a close contact of someone with COVID-19, please review the information below for guidance.

Do you have any COVID-19 or flu symptoms?

Learn when to stay home, when to leave isolation and how to protect others when returning to public settings. Download the helpful guide below in English, French, Arabic and Simplified Chinese.

Family Doctor Tips on Caring for Children with Respiratory Symptoms

Download this helpful resource from the Ontario College of Family Physicians and find tips on caring for children with respiratory symptoms (PDF).

Do you have symptoms of COVID-19?

If you are feeling unwell, take the COVID-19 Self-Assessment to determine if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and need to self-isolate. If you have symptoms, assume that you are positive for COVID-19 and follow the following self-isolation requirements which apply to you.

General Public

Stay Home

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu, stay home and self-isolate.

Consider Going Out/Consider Leaving Self-Isolation

• If your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea).
• If you no longer have a fever.
• If you have not developed any additional symptoms.

Return to Public Settings

For the remainder of the 10 days that began when your symptoms started:

• Wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings.
• Avoid non-essential activities where you need to take off your mask (for example, dining out).
• Avoid non-essential visits with anyone who is immunocompromised or may be at higher risk of illness (e.g. seniors).
• Avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings in the community such as hospitals and long-term care homes.

Individuals who reside in a high-risk setting, are hospitalized for COVID-19-related illness, are immunocompromised:

• Self-isolate for at least 10 days after your symptoms started or you conducted a COVID-19 test which was positive (whichever is earlier).
• After self-isolating for a minimum of 10 days, you may stop self-isolating so long as you are without fever and your symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (48 hours if your symptoms are gastrointestinal, i.e. nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea).

Individuals with severe illness (requiring ICU level of care)

• Self-isolate for at least 20 days after your symptoms started or you conducted a COVID-19 test which was positive (whichever is earlier).
• After self-isolating for a minimum of 20 days, you may stop self-isolating so long as you are without fever and your symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (48 hours if your symptoms are gastrointestinal, i.e. nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea).

Do you live or work in a high-risk setting?

If you live or work in a high-risk setting, please review additional information here.

Have you tested positive for COVID-19?

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and have tested positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or a Rapid Antigen Test, follow the self-isolation requirements which apply to you.
• If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 but have tested positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or a Rapid Antigen Test, you are not required to self-isolate but should:
• Wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings.
• Avoid non-essential activities where you need to take off your mask (for example, dining out).
• Avoid non-essential visits with anyone who is immunocompromised or may be at higher risk of illness (e.g. seniors).
• Avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings in the community such as hospitals and long-term care homes.
• If symptoms develop, self-isolate immediately and follow the self-isolation requirements which apply to you.

Do you live or work in a high-risk setting?

If you work in a high-risk setting and you either have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test, you must:

• For staff, notify your employer.
• Do not return to your high-risk setting for 10 days after the date your symptoms started, or the date of your positive test, whichever is earlier, regardless of your vaccination status.
• Based upon staffing needs, your symptoms and in consultation with your employer, you may be able to return to work early.

If you live in a high-risk setting and you either have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19, public health and the facility will work together to provide isolation instructions.

Are you a close contact of someone with COVID-19?

You’ve been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or someone with COVID-19 symptoms. Now what?

For a total of 10 days after your last exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has COVID-19 symptoms:

• Self-monitor for symptoms. If any develop, self-isolate immediately and seek testing if eligible.
• Wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings and maintain masking as much as possible in public (including school and child care, unless under 2 years of age).
• Avoid activities where mask removal is necessary (e.g., dining out, playing a wind instrument, high contact sports where masks cannot be safely worn).
• Individuals who are unable to mask (e.g., children under two years of age) may return to public settings without masking.
• Avoid non-essential visits to anyone who is immunocompromised or at higher risk of illness (e.g., seniors).
• Avoid non-essential visits to highest-risk settings (e.g., hospitals, long-term care homes). Where essential visits cannot be avoided, close contacts should wear a medical mask, maintain physical distancing, and notify the highest risk setting of their recent exposure.

Definitions

Close Contact
A close contact is someone with whom you were within two metres’ distance for at least 15 minutes, or multiple shorter lengths of time, without personal protective equipment within the 48 hours before your symptoms started or you had your positive test, whichever came first.

High-risk Settings
Hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services), home and community care workers and congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including, but not limited to, Long-Term Care, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, correctional institutions, Provincial Demonstration Schools and hospital schools.

Self-isolate
For information about how to self-isolate, please review Public Health Ontario's How to Self-Isolate (PDF).

Self-monitor
For information about how to self-monitor, please review Public Health Ontario's How to Self-Monitor (PDF).