1. All travellers returning to Canada
On March 25, the Government of Canada enacted emergency measures that require mandatory 14-day self-isolation for all persons entering Canada, even if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms and even if they obtain a negative COVID-19 test result. Some provinces and territories may have specific recommendations for certain groups, such as health-care workers and for workers who are essential to the movement of goods and people.
Mandatory self-isolation means you must:
- Go directly to the place where you will isolate, without delay, and stay there for 14 days. Monitor yourself for symptoms.
- Go to your place of isolation using private transportation only, such as your personal vehicle.
- Stay at home (do not leave your property).
- Not leave your place of isolation unless it’s to seek medical attention.
- Do not go to school, work, other public areas or use public transportation (e.g. buses, taxis).
- Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible.
- Not have visitors and limit contact with others in the place of isolation, including children.
- Not isolate in a place where you will have contact with vulnerable people such as older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions.
For more details, see Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel advice from the Government of Canada.
2. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate at home.
Symptoms range from mild (common respiratory infections) to severe. Common symptoms vary from one or more of the following: headache, runny nose, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting, cough or fever.
Effective December 31, 2021, symptomatic testing will only be available for high-risk individuals, and individuals who work in high-risk settings. Highest risk settings/individuals include hospitals, Long-Term Care, retirement homes, congregate living settings and health care workers providing care to immunocompromised people.
- COVID-19 cases associated with highest risk settings will be prioritized.
- Backgrounder: Updated Eligibility for PCR Testing and Case and Contact Management Guidance in Ontario – December 30, 2021
- News Release: Ontario Updating Public Health Measures and Guidance in Response to Omicron – December 30, 2021
Anyone with severe respiratory illness, or a medical emergency should call 911 immediately. Advise them of your symptoms and any travel history.
If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care.
4. Contact of a contact
Anyone that is a contact is recommended to tell their household members to stay home except for essential reasons while the contact is quarantining, especially if the contact has not been tested yet or is waiting for test results.
Learn more about how to self-isolate.