COVID-19 case and contact management

COVID-19 Case and Contact Information Hub

Home Health and Wellness COVID-19 UpdateCOVID-19 Case and Contact Information Hub

Please select one of the options below to get COVID-19 isolation and testing information that is relevant to you.

I need COVID-19 vaccine information

COVID-19 in the workplace

I have symptoms or a positive test result

Schools and child care centres

What are the COVID-19 symptoms

Multilingual COVID-19 resources

I am a contact of a COVID-19 case

I have COVID-19 symptoms and/or a positive test result. What should I do now?

Individuals who have COVID-19 symptoms OR who have tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR, rapid molecular or rapid antigen should self-isolate immediately and stay at home until fever is resolved and symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms). Longer self-isolation is recommended in certain populations. Individuals who are asymptomatic and tested positive are not required to isolate. See table below for more information.

Isolation period for test-positive cases and individuals with COVID-19 symptoms
Population	Isolation period	Additional precautions after self-isolation period
Individuals with severe illness (requiring ICU level of care)	At least 20 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	No additional precautions
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. Setting-specific guidance prevails for case isolation in highest-risk setting.	No additional precautions
All other individuals not listed above who have COVID-19 symptoms OR a positive COVID-19 test (PCR, rapid molecular, or rapid antigen)	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 date of specimen collection or symptom onset, 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 setting such as hospitals and long-term care homes

What should I tell my close contacts including household members?

If you have symptoms and/or tested positive for COVID-19, you should inform your close contacts of their potential exposure.

This includes those who had contact with you within the 48 hours prior to your symptom onset or specimen collection (whichever is earlier) and until you started self-isolating AND;
Were in close proximity (less than 2 meters) for at least 15 minutes or for multiple short periods of time without appropriate measures such as masking, distancing and/or use of personal protective equipment.

Close contacts including household members of individuals who are symptomatic and/or tested positive should refer to Public Health Ontario’s (PHO) fact sheet Self-Isolation: Guide for caregivers, family members and close contacts. All close contacts including household members should also visit Ontario.ca/exposed for information about self-isolation and self-monitoring requirements.

*Highest risk settings include:

Acute care settings such as hospitals, including complex continuing care facilities
Congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including but not limited to long-term care homes, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, correctional institutions, and hospital schools
Employer-provided living settings of International Agricultural Workers

What if I have symptoms and/or tested positive for COVID-19 and I work in a "highest risk setting"?

If you are symptomatic and/or tested positive and you work in a highest risk setting you should speak with your employer and follow their workplace guidance for return to work.

For routine operations, you may return to work in highest risk settings 10 days from symptom onset or date of specimen collection (whichever is earlier) AND provided you have no fever and other symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms).

Testing for clearance is not recommended.

Your local public health unit or the provincial case and contact management staff may follow-up with you for contact management in your workplace. For the length of time of your isolation period, see “I have COVID-19 symptoms and/or received a positive COVID-19 test result”.

See highest-risk settings.

What if I have symptoms and/or tested positive for COVID-19 and I live in a "highest risk setting"?

If you are symptomatic and/or tested positive and you live in a highest risk setting you should isolate for at least 10 days after the date of speciment 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.

See highest-risk settings.

What are the COVID-19 symptoms?

If you have the symptoms listed below, it is highly likely that you have a COVID-19 infection. If you are not eligible for PCR/Rapid molecular testing you are presumed to have COVID-19 infection and are advised to self-isolate as soon as possible after symptom onset. For more information on testing eligibility visit our COVID-19 Testing page.

See isolation period for test-positive cases and individuals with COVID-19 symptoms.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The symptoms* of COVID-19 include:

Fever and/or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath
Decrease or loss of taste or smell
Extreme fatigue
Muscle aches or joint pain
Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea)
Sore throat (painful swallowing or difficulty swallowing)
Runny nose or nasal congestion
Headache
Abdominal pain
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Decreased or lack of appetite

*Symptoms should not be related to any other known causes or conditions.

Individuals with any of the above symptoms are recommended to self-isolate and stay at home until fever is resolved and their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms). Longer self-isolation is recommended in certain populations; see “I have COVID-19 symptoms and/or received a positive COVID-19 test result” for more information.

Should I get tested if I am symptomatic?

Most individuals do not need a COVID-19 test. If you are eligible for testing, get a PCR, rapid molecular test or rapid antigen test (if you have access). If testing is not available, you must fulfill the self-isolation period for symptomatic individuals. For more information about testing visit our testing page.

Is there treatment for COVID-19?

Several types of treatment have been developed for COVID-19. Some of these medications reduce or stop the virus from multiplying in human cells. Other medications treat the symptoms of COVID-19. Medication can be prescribed by a health care provider after an assessment to determine that an individual meets the criteria for the specific treatment.

Book an appointment at a clinical assessment centre.

What should I do if my symptoms worsen?

If your symptoms worsen, seek advice from Health811 at 1-866-797-0000 or TTY:1-866-797-0007 or your health care provider.

What should I do if my rapid antigen test (RAT) is negative?

A single negative rapid antigen test in an individual with COVID-19 symptoms does not rule out a COVID-19 infection. If two consecutive rapid antigen tests, separated by at least 24-48 hours, are both negative, you are less likely to have a COVID-19 infection. You should self-isolate until you have no fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms).

What should I do if my rapid antigen test (RAT) is positive?

Refer to "I have COVID-19 symptoms and/or a positive test results".

I am a contact of a COVID-19 case

A close contact is defined as an individual who has a high-risk exposure to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 (PCR, rapid molecular or rapid antigen) or to an individual with COVID-19 symptoms.

All close contacts should visit Ontario.ca/exposed for information about self-isolation and self-monitoring requirements.

COVID-19 in the workplace

This guidance does not apply to employees in the highest risk settings.

What if an employee has notified me that they have symptoms and/or tested positive for COVID-19?

If an employee has phoned in sick with symptoms and/or tested positive for COVID-19, advise the employee that they should follow isolation requirements outlined in “I have COVID-19 symptoms and/or received a positive COVID-19 test result”.

Advise the employee to inform their close contacts including the employee’s co-workers, that they should visit Ontario.ca/exposed for information about self-isolation and self-monitoring requirements.

Workplace health and safety resources

Schools and child care centres

If my child is sick, when can they return to school/child care?

If your child has symptoms of COVID-19, refer to the section “I have COVID-19 symptoms and/or received a positive COVID-19 test result”.
Your child can return to school/child care when the required isolation period is complete and symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours if symptoms are gastrointestinal)

For additional information related to schools, visit our Schools Reopening Toolkit.

Multilingual COVID-19 resources

If you would like to see COVID-19 resources in another language, please visit Public Health Ontario’s Multilingual COVID-19 Resources page.