Information for those who have symptoms, test positive for COVID-19 and close contacts
Updated: September 9, 2022
If you have questions regarding provincial testing and access, and/or would like additional guidance regarding self-isolation or possible/confirmed COVID-19 exposure, please call the Provincial Testing and Isolation Information Line at 1-888-777-0730, available Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Stay home if you are sick
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This means:
Staying home until you have no fever and your symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you have gastro-intestinal symptoms).
After isolating,
wear a mask when out in public for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
Avoid non-essential visits to vulnerable individuals at risk of severe infection and highest risk settings (e.g., hospitals, long-term care) for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
Follow this advice whether you have tested for COVID or not.
Make sure you know if you are
eligible for COVID treatmentsand how to get tested and access treatment if you are eligible.
I have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive. Now what?
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You must self-isolate right away to protect those around you. Self-isolation prevents the spread of COVID-19. Self-isolation means staying at home, avoiding contact with other people including those in your household if possible, and only leaving home for critical reasons, like a medical emergency.
- Follow
Public Health Ontario for instructions on how to effectively self- isolate.
- You should be staying in a separate room from your family members and have very limited to no contact with them.
- If needing to come out of your room and access a common living space (i.e., kitchen or bathroom), you must wear a mask and keep 6-feet distance. Additionally, others in your house should regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces.
Monitor your symptom progression:
- If you develop serious symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath and are not coping well at home, you should seek medical attention.
- If seeking medical attention, wear a mask, maintain physical distancing, and inform the healthcare worker immediately that you have tested positive for COVID-19.
Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms
| Stay home while sick – i.e., until afebrile and symptoms improving for 24 hours (48 hours for gastro-intestinal symptoms), regardless of testing results or no testing. Isolate for 10 days for hospitalized, immunocompromised and those in highest risk settings.
| Continue to wear a mask for 10 days from symptom onset after isolating.
Avoid non-essential visits to vulnerable individuals and highest risk settings for 10 days.
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Individuals who test positive but are asymptomatic
| No longer required to isolate if remain asymptomatic
| Continue to wear a mask for 10 days from symptom onset after isolating.
Avoid non-essential visits to vulnerable individuals and highest risk settings for 10 days.
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Individuals who are close contacts
| Monitor for symptoms.
Isolate immediately if symptoms develop.
| Wear a mask for 10 days from last exposure.
Avoid non-essential visits to vulnerable individuals and settings.
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In all scenarios, symptoms need to be improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present before ending self-isolation. Please refer to the information in the table below.
Individuals with severe illness (requiring ICU level of care)
| At least 20 days (or at discretion of hospital IPAC) after the date of specimen collection or symptom onset (whichever is earlier/applicable) and until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present.
| N/A
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Individuals who are:
- residing in a highest risk setting
- hospitalized for COVID-19 related illness (not requiring ICU level of care)
- immunocompromised
| At least 10 days after the date of specimen collection or symptom onset (whichever is earlier/ applicable) and until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present.
• Duration of isolation may be modified based on hospital IPAC direction (for inpatients) or health care provider direction (for individuals with immune compromise). • Setting-specific guidance prevails for case isolation in highest risk settings.
| N/A
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All other individuals not listed above who have COVID-19 symptoms OR a positive COVID-19 test (PCR, rapid molecular or rapid antigen test)
| Until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) and no fever present.
• Asymptomatic individuals with a positive test result do not need to self-isolate unless symptoms develop. If symptoms develop, they should self-isolate immediately.
| For a total of 10 days after the date of specimen collection or symptom onset (whichever is earlier/applicable), individuals should:
- Continue to wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and childcare, unless under 2 years old) and avoid non-essential activities where mask removal is necessary (e.g., dining out, playing a wind instrument, high contact sports where masks cannot be safely worn)
- Not visit anyone who is immunocompromised or at higher risk of illness (e.g., seniors)
- Avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings such as hospitals and long-term care homes
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Access Ontario's antiviral screener tool to help determine if you are at higher risk and should be assessed for treatment. A positive rapid antigen test, PCR or rapid molecular test is required as part of the assessment for antiviral treatment.
The following higher-risk groups are eligible to be tested and assessed for antiviral treatments, such as Paxlovid, in Ontario:
- Individuals aged 18 and over who are immunocompromised (have an immune system that is weakened by a health condition or medications);
- Individuals aged 70 and over
- Individuals aged 60 and over with fewer than three vaccine doses; and
- Individuals aged 18 and over with fewer than three vaccine doses and at least one risk condition (e.g., a chronic medical condition)
A list of pharmacies dispensing Paxlovid is available at Ontario.ca/antivirals.
Treatment for antivirals must be started within five days of symptoms in most cases. Individuals who are part of higher risk groups and who have COVID-19 symptoms should immediately seek testing and care, by contacting their health care provider or visiting a clinical assessment centre. Individuals can contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 for more information about where to find a clinical assessment centre or to determine if they are at higher risk.
People who are contacts of someone who tests positive for COVID-19 (high-risk/close contacts)
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A high-risk contact is someone who was in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. Close contact is being within 2 meters (6 feet) of a person who tested positive for COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time or having multiple close encounters, even when both people are wearing a mask.
Some examples of high-risk situations include:
- Physical contact such as shaking someone’s hand, hugging kissing, being sneezed or coughed on.
- Living in the same household (this excludes individuals who live in a completely separate unit such as a self-contained basement apartment).
- Providing care to someone (e.g., taking care of an elderly parent).
For individuals who work/volunteer/attend a highest risk setting and do not have any symptoms:
- Employees working in highest risk settings who have had a high-risk exposure to a COVID-19 case should speak with their employer to report their exposure and follow their workplace guidance for return to work.
Employees working in highest risk settings should
self-monitor for symptoms for a total of 10 days after the last exposure to the COVID-19 positive case or individual with COVID-19 symptoms.
All employees should self-isolate immediately if they develop any symptom of COVID-19 and seek testing if eligible.
Close contacts should self-monitor for 10 days from last exposure. Close contacts who develop
any symptom(s) of COVID-19 should
self-isolate immediately and be tested by molecular testing as soon as possible.
Close contacts outside of highest risk settings
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Household and Non-Household Close Contacts
- For a total of 10 days after the last exposure to the COVID-19 positive case or individual with COVID-19 symptoms, the individual notified by a case should: Self-monitor for symptoms and
self-isolate immediately if you develop any symptom of COVID-19 and seek testing if eligible;
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Wear a well fitted mask in all public settings:
- Individuals should maintain masking as much as possible in public settings (including school and child care, unless under 2 years old). Reasonable exceptions would include removal for essential activities like eating, while maintaining as much distancing as possible;
- Participation in activities where masking can be maintained throughout may be resumed, but individuals should avoid activities where mask removal would be necessary (e.g., dining out; playing a wind instrument; high contact sports where masks cannot be safely worn); and
- Individuals who are unable to mask (e.g., children under two years of age, etc.) 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); and
- Avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings such as hospitals and long-term care homes. Where essential visit cannot be avoided, close contacts should wear a medical mask, maintain physical distancing, and notify the highest risk setting of their recent exposure.
