What is self-isolation?
Self-isolation helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Self-isolation means staying at home when you are sick and avoiding contact with other people, including the people you live with. You should only leave home for independent exercise or for critical reasons, like a medical emergency or urgent medical care. Guidance for self-isolation is based on an individual’s symptoms and health status. There is specific guidance for those living in highest-risk settings, such as long-term care homes, retirement homes and congregate living settings.
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
Screening tools for returning to work, school or child care
- Take this self-assessment if you have any symptoms of illness or tested positive for COVID-19.
Symptoms of COVID-19
Getting tested and treated for COVID-19
- How to collect a sample for a rapid antigen test
- 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
- Who is a close contact infographic (available in Arabic and Somali)
Last updated: August 22, 2023
Isolation instructions for COVID-19 and what to do after your COVID-19 test
Guidance for self-isolation is based on an individual’s symptoms and health status. There is specific guidance for those living in highest-risk settings, such as long-term care homes, retirement homes and congregate living settings.
What best describes you?
I have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive on a PCR or rapid antigen test |
Scenario A - High risk immunocompromised groups This applies to you if you are:
You should self-isolate and follow these instructions:
Scenario B - Severely ill individualsThis applies to you if you are:
You should self-isolate and follow these instructions:
Scenario C – Other individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test resultThis applies to you if you are:
You should self-isolate and follow these instructions:
If you are working in a highest risk setting:
If you are working in a highest risk setting:
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I was exposed to someone who has symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 |
Scenario A - Close contacts who DO NOT live in a highest risk settingThis applies to you if you are:
You should follow these instructions:
If you are working in a highest risk setting:
Scenario B - Close contacts who live in a highest risk settingThis applies to you if you are:
You should follow these instructions:
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I developed COVID-19 symptoms after receiving Paxlovid treatment |
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms 2-8 days following Paxlovid treatment for COVID-19, re-start your self-isolation from the day you developed rebound symptoms until your symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. |
I travelled internationally, what are the federal quarantine rules? |
More information on travel is available from the Government of Canada travel website. |
Related topics
Do I need to report my positive test result to OPH? | ||||||||||
It is not necessary to report positive rapid antigen test results 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 should follow self-isolation instructions. |
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Why am I still testing positive following isolation? | ||||||||||
Rapid Antigen Test after infection: Some people may have positive rapid antigen tests for up to 30 days. If someone develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should follow self-isolation instructions. If the person develops new symptoms of COVID-19 during the 30-day period following a positive rapid antigen test, consult a health care provider to help with the decision on whether to do further testing. Individuals who develop new symptoms of COVID-19 should complete the provincial screening tool and follow the isolation and mask use instructions provided. PCR Test after infection: 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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If you have symptoms, you should should follow self-isolation instructions. However, there may be exceptions in certain situations, such as needing to seek urgent medical care, or attending essential medical appointments with a health care professional that cannot be delayed (e.g., for newborns 24-72 hours after discharge from hospital). Please discuss this with your healthcare provider before attending your appointment. 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). 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 tested positive for COVID-19 or isolating due to symptoms. |
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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 should 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 should not go to outdoor fitness classes or personal training sessions. Do not attend any indoor fitness activities. |
Definitions
Close contact |
Close 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:
Please share this close contact letter 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:
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Last contact |
Last contact refers to the last day the close contact was exposed to the person who is isolating with COVID-19 symptoms, or with a positive COVID-19 test result:
For example, if a child with COVID-19 was self-isolating from Monday to Saturday, the ‘last contact’ 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 should follow these self-isolation instructions.
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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