⚠ If you have come in contact with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid antigen test (RAT) test, complete this self-isolation determination tool to find out if you need to self-isolate.
What is self-isolation?
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 independent exercise or for critical reasons, like a medical emergency or urgent medical care. The duration and instructions for self-isolation are different for each individual who may have been exposed to COVID-19. The self-isolation instructions are based on a combination of each individual's age, symptoms, test results, vaccination status, place of work or residence, general health and travel history.
Isolation instructions for COVID-19 and what to do after a test
- Who needs to self-isolate and for how long
- Do I need to report my positive test result to OPH?
- Why am I still testing positive following isolation?
- Accessing medical care during self-isolation
- Outdoor exercise during self-isolation
- Ottawa Voluntary Isolation Centre
Screening tools for returning to work, school or child care
Symptoms of COVID-19
Getting tested and treated for COVID-19
- How to collect a sample for a rapid antigen test (RAT)
- Where to get rapid antigen tests
- Can I get a PCR test?
- I have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to be seen by a medical professional
- Can I get antiviral treatment?
- Private testing for travellers
Download resources
Contact us
Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 Telephone Line
- Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
- Translation is available in multiple languages
- Telephone: 613-580-6744 follow the prompts to the COVID-19 telephone line
- TTY: 613-580-9656
Emergency Services
- If you are in distress (e.g., significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting or have a significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms), do not go to the Assessment Centre or a COVID-19 Care clinic. Go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.
Last updated: June 21, 2022
Isolation instructions for COVID-19 and what to do after your COVID-19 test
The self-isolation instructions may be different for each individual who may have been exposed to or may have COVID-19. The self-isolation instructions are based on a combination of each individual's age, symptoms, test results, vaccination status, place of work or residence, general health and travel history.
What best describes you?
I have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive on a PCR or rapid antigen test | ||||||
Scenario A - Fully vaccinated or under 12 years of age This applies to you if you are:
You must self-isolate and follow these instructions:
Scenario B - Higher-risk groupsThis applies to you if you are:
You must self-isolate and follow these instructions:
Scenario C - Severely ill individualsThis applies to you if you are:
You must self-isolate and follow these instructions:
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I was exposed outside my home to someone who has symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 |
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The self-isolation instructions depend on your scenario. Please read carefully and follow the self-isolation instructions below that best describe your scenario. You can also complete this self-isolation determination tool to find out if you need to self-isolate. Scenario A - High-risk contacts who DO NOT live in a highest risk settingThis applies to you if you are:
You must follow these instructions:
Scenario B - High-risk contacts who live in a highest risk settingThis applies to you if you are:
You must self-isolate and follow these instructions:
Scenario C - High-risk contacts who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 daysThis applies to you if you are:
You must follow these instructions:
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I live at home with someone who has symptoms or tested positive | ||||||
The self-isolation instructions depend on your scenario. Please read carefully and follow the self-isolation instructions below that best describe your scenario. You can also complete this self-isolation determination tool to find out if you need to self-isolate. Scenario A - Household members who have not previously tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 daysThis applies to you if you are:
AND
OR
You must follow these instructions:
Scenario B - Household members who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 daysThis applies to you if you are:
AND
You must follow these instructions:
Scenario C - Household members who are not part of Scenario A or BThis applies to you if you are:
You must self-isolate and follow these instructions:
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I travelled internationally, what are the federal quarantine rules? |
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If you traveled, follow the self-isolation directions from the federal Quarantine Officer. More information on travel and quarantine is available from the Government of Canada travel website. |
Related topics
Do I need to report my positive test result to OPH? | ||||||||||
People who have symptoms or test positive on a rapid antigen test and are not eligible for PCR testing are presumed to have COVID-19 and must follow self-isolation instructions. | ||||||||||
Why am I still testing positive following isolation? | ||||||||||
PCR Test after infection:
After testing positive for COVID-19 on either a PCR test or RAT, individuals can begin participating in RAT screening programs (e.g., workplace programs that test for COVID-19 infection regularly in those without symptoms) 30 days after the initial COVID-19 infection. If the person develops new symptoms of COVID-19 during the 30 day period following a positive RAT, consult a health care provider to help with the decision on whether to do further testing. Note that individuals who develop new symptoms of COVID-19 should complete the provincial screening tool and follow the isolation and mask use instructions provided. Frequently Asked Questions about Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) and PCR tests
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Accessing medical care during self-isolation |
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You must follow the self-isolation requirements. This is the law. However, there may be exemptions allowed in certain situations. If you are in distress, go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 (experiencing significant trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, or have significant worsening of any chronic disease symptoms). You can break isolation in order to seek urgent medical care. Note that urgent medical care includes babies under 3 months of age with a fever who should be seen by CHEO or the nearest emergency department. Be sure to tell the hospital you are COVID-19 positive or isolating due to symptoms or being a close contact. For non-emergency situations where you need medical help, visit a COVID-19 Care Clinic. Isolation may also be broken to attend essential medical appointments with a healthcare professional that cannot be delayed, such as attending appointments for newborns 24-72 hours after discharge from hospital. Please discuss this with your healthcare provider before attending your appointment.
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Outdoor exercise during self-isolation |
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You may leave your home for outdoor exercise by yourself or with a caregiver. You must maintain physical distance of at least two metres (six feet) from others at all times and wear a mask in common areas when leaving if you live in an apartment building, condo, or hotel. You must not go to outdoor fitness classes or personal training sessions. Do not attend any indoor fitness activities. |
Definitions
Fully vaccinated |
Fully vaccinated means that it has been at least 14 days since you received:
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High risk contact |
A high-risk contact is someone who was in close contact with a person who had symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 during the time they could transmit the virus to others (period of communicability). A person’s period of communicability is 48 hours before their first symptom started, or 48 hours before their test date (if they have no symptoms) until their self-isolation period has ended. Close contact is being within two meters (six feet) of a person who had symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 for more than a brief encounter or having multiple close encounters, without adequate protection. See our Masks page for more information on using masks. Some examples of high-risk situations include:
OPH may decide that someone is a high-risk contact based on information provided by the person who tested positive. OPH may also decide this based on information from where the exposure took place, such as schools, day cares or workplaces. OPH assesses many factors to determine if a contact had a high-risk exposure. This includes where you were, how long you were together, how close you were and if masks were worn. Please share this high-risk contact letter (PDF - 250 KB) to anyone you were in close contact with, beginning 48 hours before your symptoms started (or 48 hours before your positive result, if you have no symptoms), up until you started self-isolating. (This document is not in an accessible format.) |
Highest-risk setting |
Highest risk settings include:
+Health care settings to be considered are locations where a high number of patients are immunocompromised (e.g., dialysis clinics, outpatient chemotherapy clinics, transplant clinics). Follow your employer’s guidelines for returning to work. If your employer is not providing guidelines for returning to work, health care workers should assess the risks and benefits of returning to work after five days of isolation. Consider if returning to work may result in multiple high-risk individuals (as defined above) being infected due to the small risk of still transmitting the virus. In general, most community settings would not be considered highest-risk (e.g., dental, optometry). Child-care facilities including schools are not considered ‘highest risk’ unless they are a congregate living setting and/or are associated with a health care environment for immunocompromised or otherwise medically complex individuals (e.g., respite care). |
Last exposure |
Last exposure refers to the last day the household member was exposed to the person who is isolating with COVID-19 symptoms, or a positive COVID-19 test result:
For example, if a child with COVID-19 was self-isolating from Monday to Saturday, the ‘last exposure’ for the parent who was caring for the COVID-19 positive child would be Saturday. |
Symptoms of COVID-19
As molecular testing (PCR and rapid molecular testing) is prioritized for those at increased risk of severe outcomes and those living and working in highest risk settings, molecular testing is no longer being recommended for all individuals in the community with symptoms of COVID-19. People who have symptoms and are not eligible for PCR testing are presumed to have COVID-19 and must follow these self-isolation instructions. Complete this self-isolation determination tool to determine your self isolation instructions.
Download our handout : You have symptoms and are concerned you may have COVID-19. Now what?
COVID-19 symptoms
Type |
Symptoms (new or worsening, and not related to other known causes or conditions you already have) |
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Most common symptoms of COVID-19 |
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Other symptoms of COVID-19
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