COVID-19 Case and Contact Information Hub

What should I tell my household members?

All household members will need to self-isolate while you are self-isolating regardless of their vaccination status. You should isolate away from household members where possible to avoid ongoing exposure.

If household members develop symptoms of COVID-19, they should follow isolation directions for symptomatic individuals and if eligible for testing, they should seek testing.

Any other household members who are still well and have not developed COVID-19 symptoms should extend their self-isolation until the newly symptomatic or positive person has finished their self-isolation period. The initial household member(s) with symptoms of COVID-19 do not have to extend their self-isolation period based on other household members becoming ill.

Household members who complete isolation after 5 days, must continue to wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings, not visit anyone who is immunocompromised, and not visit any highest risk settings* for ten days from the last exposure to the person with COVID-19.

*Highest risk settings include:

• Hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services).
• Congregate living settings, including long-term care, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices and correctional institutions.

What should I tell my close contacts?

All people who have tested positive for COVID-19 (on PCR, rapid molecular, or rapid antigen tests) should notify close contacts of their exposure.

Close contacts include:

• Anyone with whom the COVID-19 positive person came into close contact within the 48 hours prior to symptom onset if symptomatic or 48 hours prior to the test date if asymptomatic, and until the positive person started self-isolating.
• Close contact means you 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 and use of personal protective equipment.

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

Cohort-based dismissals in non-highest risk settings (e.g., child cares/schools) will no longer occur.

Individuals who have been previously positive (based on test results) within the last 90 days, and tested positive on or after Dec. 20, 2021, may be managed as equivalent as ‘fully vaccinated’ close contacts (e.g., self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days**). See “I am a contact of a COVID-19 case” for more information.

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

A positive RAT means you likely have COVID-19. You and your household members are required to self-isolate the same as someone with symptoms.

• Your positive RAT does not need to be confirmed by PCR/rapid molecular test.
• Positive RAT tests do not need to be reported to the public health unit.
• Notify your workplace of your positive RAT as they may have additional instructions for you.

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

If you tested positive and you work in a highest risk setting you should not attend work for 10 days from symptom onset (or from specimen collection date if asymptomatic). 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 “My COVID-19 test result is positive” above. Notify your workplace that you tested positive as they may have additional instructions for you.

*Highest risk settings include:

• Hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services).
• Congregate living settings, including long-term care, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices and correctional institutions.

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

If you tested positive and you live in a highest risk setting you should isolate for at least 10 days from symptom onset (or from specimen collection date if asymptomatic). You should also follow any instructions provided to you by the setting operator.

*Highest risk settings include:

• Hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services).
• Congregate living settings, including long-term care, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices and correctional institutions.

The symptoms* of COVID-19 include:

• Fever and/or chills; OR
• Cough; OR
• Shortness of breath; OR
• Decrease or loss of taste or smell; OR
• Two or more of:
  • Runny nose/nasal congestion
  • Headache
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Muscle aches/joint pain
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. vomiting or diarrhea)

If you do not have the symptoms of COVID-19, it is less likely that you have COVID-19 infection. You are not required to self-isolate. You should monitor for other symptoms and stay home until your symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms) to limit the spread of other illnesses that you may have (e.g. cold, influenza, other viral respiratory or gastrointestinal illness).

Your household members and other contacts do not need to self-isolate as long as they have no symptoms.

If you develop additional symptoms that now match the COVID-19 symptoms list you and your household should follow the guidance for individuals “sick with COVID-19 symptoms”.

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19, your household members (regardless of vaccination status), should self-isolate only while you are isolating, regardless of ongoing exposures to you.
• If additional household members develop COVID-19 symptoms, they should follow isolation directions for individuals sick with symptoms and if eligible for testing they should seek testing.
• Any other household members who are still well and have not developed COVID-19 symptoms should extend their self-isolation until the last symptomatic (or COVID-19 positive person) has finished their self-isolation period.
• The initial household member(s) with symptoms of COVID-19 do not have to extend their self-isolation period based on other household members becoming ill.

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. 

What should I do if my symptoms worsen?

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

What should I tell my close contacts?

If you have symptoms of 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 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.

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

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

If two consecutive RATs, separated by 24-48 hours, are both negative, you are less likely to have 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). Your household members do not need to self-isolate if they are symptom free.

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

See this information in the section above. 

If an employee has phoned in sick with symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 advise the employee that they are to self-isolate immediately and not return to work until their self-isolation is complete and their symptoms are improving as outlined in the corresponding sections “My COVID-19 test result is positive. What should I do now?” or “I am sick with COVID-19 symptoms. Now what?

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.

An employee who has been identified as a close contact of a person that has tested positive for COVID-19 is not required to isolate if they are:

• fully vaccinated, and
• not a household member of the COVID-19 positive individual, and
• not showing any signs and symptoms of COVID-19

• Get information to help develop a plan to protect workers, customers, and the public from COVID-19
• COVID-19 Guidance and Advice for Businesses and Organizations
• www.Ontario.ca/exposed

• Given the widespread transmission of the Omicron variant and changes to the provincial testing approach, schools and child care operators will no longer be routinely notifying families of positive cases or if an individual is absent due to symptoms associated with COVID-19.
• Public health units will not be dismissing cohorts for public health reasons. Any dismissals or closures of a school or child care centre will be based on operational requirements determined by the school board, school and/or child care operator.
• Individuals only exposed at school with all public health measures in place are not generally considered high-risk contacts.

• To support ongoing monitoring and transparency related to COVID-19 impacts on schools, schools will be monitoring absenteeism rates. If the absenteeism rate in a school rises to a defined level (e.g., 30 per cent above their baseline) school principals will notify their local public health unit.
• When a school or child care setting’s absenteeism rate increases sharply (e.g., 30 per cent above their baseline), the school board/school/ child care provider will send a notification to families and staff in the affected school/child care setting, signed by the local Medical Officer of Health with information on public health measures for students and families to follow.

• If your child has symptoms of COVID-19, refer to the section I am sick with COVID-19 symptoms. Now what?
• 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)

If you could not find the information you were looking for on this page related to COVID-19 case and contact information, please see our Facts and FAQs page. If you still cannot find an answer to your question, you can contact us.