New Covid Self Isolation Rules Ontario

If your test is positive at any time, TPH will contact you and you will not need any further tests. If you are not already self-isolating when your test is positive, you should start self-isolating immediately. Find out what to do if you test positive for COVID-19. You do not need a test to show that you have recovered from COVID-19 or to end your isolation. A new test is not recommended because you can still test positive for several weeks even if you are no longer contagious. To find out how long you need to self-isolate, complete the COVID-19 self-assessment. Follow Public Health Ontario`s instructions on self-isolation. Take the COVID-19 self-assessment for recommendations on what to do if you have symptoms of illness or have tested positive for COVID-19. Take it for yourself or on behalf of someone else. Businesses and organizations can implement their own rules and policies regarding mask wearing in their communities, and Ontarians should respect and follow these rules. In addition to the general requirements and guidance above for masks, workers may have separate personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements than their employer. Some people can transmit the virus to others even after ending their self-isolation as described above. For this reason, Niagara Region Public Health encourages (but does not require) two negative rapid COVID-19 tests (ideally 24 hours apart) before leaving isolation.

Find free rapid tests near you. If it has been 10 days since your symptoms started and you continue to test positive for these tests, but your symptoms have improved, you can leave isolation. Self-isolation guidelines are different for those working in the most at-risk environments. If you have symptoms, test positive for COVID-19, or are in close contact, contact your employer for advice on self-isolation and returning to work. Symptoms should also improve before leaving isolation. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (even if they are mild), it is recommended that you stay home (self-isolate) while you are sick. If your test is positive but you have no symptoms, it is recommended that you self-isolate until you get two rapid negative COVID-19 tests (ideally 24 hours apart). This is to increase confidence that you are not passing the virus on to others. If you continue to test positive 10 days after your first positive test, but still have no symptoms, you can leave isolation.

To date, Toronto Public Health has investigated every case of COVID-19 and followed up on their close contacts. Until further notice, provincial staff will first contact COVID-19 cases to provide instructions on isolation, testing and notification of household and other close contacts, as well as assessing cases to determine if the individual has been involved in a high-risk situation. If a case of COVID-19 is linked to a high-risk environment, the case will be referred to Toronto Public Health for contact tracing related to the high-risk environment. Close contacts of cases are advised to self-isolate, regardless of vaccination status. If you have questions about self-isolation or can return to work, call the COVID-19 Helpline 416-338-7600. The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) provides income support to workers and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or self-isolating due to COVID-19, or who have an underlying medical condition that puts them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. The CRSB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Even if your tests are negative, you will need to self-isolate for the full 10 days unless you are fully vaccinated or have recently had a COVID-19 infection and meet the criteria to be exempt from self-isolation.

Self-isolation (separating people who have symptoms so they cannot infect others, including close family members) is necessary to prevent the spread of a virus in a community. Close contact is anyone who has been within two feet of someone who is COVID-19 positive or showing symptoms, even for short periods of time. The interaction would have occurred within 48 hours of their symptoms or before they tested positive (if no symptoms) and until they began to self-isolate. If you are a person with a serious illness (requiring intensive care), if you self-isolate for at least 20 days (or at the discretion of infection prevention and control in hospital) from the date of the test or the onset of symptoms (whichever comes first or as the case may be) if you are a household contact of someone with COVID-19, You will need to self-isolate regardless of your vaccination status. Your self-isolation may end when your household member with COVID-19 ends their isolation, assuming you do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If your immune system is weakened, you should self-isolate for 10 days after your last close contact with the person with COVID-19. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, see the Symptoms page for advice. On August 31, 2022, the Ontario government and its Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, know that Ontario will no longer require a five-day isolation period for people who test positive for COVID-19.

This measure supports Ontario`s transition from a COVID-19 “crisis phase” to a “respiratory virus” approach. If you have a rapid antigen test (RAT) at home, you can also give it to yourself. If you are in a high-risk environment, hospitalized for COVID-19-related illness, or immunocompromised, self-isolate for at least 10 days from the date of testing or the onset of symptoms (whichever comes first or as the case may be). For more information on how to protect yourself and others, see Public Health Ontario`s fact sheet. Thank you for taking care of me and for the daily check-up calls to make sure I feel safe and comfortable here in isolation. If you are identified as a close contact, you should be tested at a community assessment centre. Close contacts should not be tested in a pharmacy or through point-of-care testing (e.g., as part of a workplace testing program or purchased at a pharmacy). Students and public school staff can use take-out/self-pick test kits provided by their school. If you cannot safely self-isolate in your own home, you may be able to stay in the Toronto Voluntary Isolation Centre.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be contacted by staff at the Assessment Centre, Toronto Public Health or the Ontario Ministry of Health. In some cases, you may receive a text message, a phone call, or both. The information on this page will tell you what to do. To find out how long you need to self-isolate, see Self-isolation.