Protection from COVID‑19 and other respiratory illnesses

Overview

While Ontario, like other jurisdictions, has taken measures to be able to live with and manage COVID-19 for the long-term, we still need to do our part to protect ourselves and others, especially during respiratory illness season.

This includes using the layers of protection that we know help keep ourselves and others healthy:

• staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots
• wearing a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in indoor public settings, especially anyone at higher risk of severe infection
• screening daily for signs of illness and staying home when you are sick
• washing your hands often
• covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze
• regularly cleaning high touch surfaces

For more information on how to protect yourself and others, read Public Health Ontario’s fact sheet.

Vaccines and other routine immunizations

It is important to get the COVID-19 vaccine when you are eligible and stay up to date with routine immunizations. Vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect you and those around you from infectious diseases.

Learn about vaccines and immunizations in Ontario

Learn about our COVID-19 vaccination program

Self assessments and screeners

Stay home

If you are sick, stay home to prevent transmission to others, except to seek testing or medical care if required.

You should stay home until all of the following apply to you:

• your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea)
• you do not have a fever
• you do not develop any additional symptoms

When your symptoms are improving and you are no longer isolating at home, doing the following can provide extra protection against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses circulating in the community.

For 10 days after your symptoms started:

• wear a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in all public settings
• avoid non-essential activities where you need to take off your mask (for example, dining out)
• avoid non-essential visits to anyone who is immunocompromised or may be at higher risk of illness (for example, seniors)
• avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings in the community such as hospitals and long-term care homes

COVID-19 health advice

Symptoms of COVID-19 and its variants range from mild — like the flu and other common respiratory infections — to severe. If you feel sick, it’s important that you stay home and talk with a primary care provider or doctor if necessary.

If you have the symptoms of COVID-19 listed below, assume that you may have the virus and may be contagious.

• Any one or more of:
  • fever or chills
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • decreased or loss of taste or smell
• Any two or more of:
  • runny nose or nasal congestion
  • headache
  • extreme fatigue
  • sore throat
  • muscle aches or joint pain
  • gastrointestinal symptoms (such as vomiting or diarrhea)

If you have symptoms of COVID-19

Stay home and self-isolate until all of the following apply:

• your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea)
• you do not have a fever
• you have not developed additional symptoms

Learn how to properly self-isolate when you have COVID-19

Do not leave your home except to get tested, to visit a clinical assessment centre, or for a medical emergency. If you have severe symptoms like chest pain or difficulty breathing, go to the nearest emergency department.

You should then continue to take additional precautions for up to 10 days after your symptoms started.

If you are immunocompromised

If you are immunocompromised and test positive for COVID-19 or have not been tested, you should stay home for 10 days and follow the guidance below on COVID-19 testing and treatment, as you may benefit from available therapies to prevent severe illness.

If you test negative for COVID-19, you can stop isolating at home once your symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you had nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever.

You can then take additional precautions for up to 10 days after your symptoms started as extra protection against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses circulating in the community.

If you work in a high-risk setting

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19 and work in a high-risk setting (such as a hospital, a long-term care home, or a retirement home), you should speak with your employer and follow your workplace guidance for return to work.

Inform others of their exposure

Tell your household members and similar close contacts that you are sick and refer them to the additional precautions section below.

A close contact is anyone you were less than two metres away from for at least 15 minutes, or multiple shorter lengths of time, without measures such as masking, distancing, and/or the use of personal protective equipment in the 48 hours before your symptoms began or your positive test result, whichever came first.

Supports if you need to isolate

If you require assistance visit the COVID-19: Support for people page. It contains information on:

• use of isolation facilities
• referral to community supports and agencies
• mental health supports
• courier and delivery support for food and necessities

You can also contact your public health unit for more information.

Additional precautions

Taking additional precautions can add another layer of prevention against the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses circulating in the community.

If any of the following apply to you, you should take the additional precautions listed below:

• your COVID-19 symptoms have been improving and you are no longer isolating at home
• you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 but have no symptoms
• you tested positive for COVID-19 but have no symptoms

For 10 days after your symptoms started, last day of exposure, or positive test result:

• self-monitor for new or worsening symptoms
• seek testing (if eligible) if you develop any new or different symptoms
• wear a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask as much as possible in all public settings, unless:
  • you are temporarily removing it for essential activities (such as when eating in shared space at school/work) while still maintaining as much distancing from others as possible
  • you are unable to mask (such as children under two years of age)
• avoid non-essential activities where you need to take off your mask (for example, playing a wind instrument, sports that require removing your mask, dining out)
• avoid visiting anyone who is immunocompromised or may be at higher risk of illness (for example, seniors)
• avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings, such as hospitals and long-term care homes

If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and work in a high-risk setting (such as a hospital, a long-term care home, or a retirement home), you should speak with your employer and follow your workplace guidance for return to work.

Get more information for caregivers, household members and close contacts

COVID-19 testing and treatment

COVID-19 testing

There are two main publicly-funded tests available in Ontario to those who are eligible: rapid antigen tests and molecular tests, which include both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid molecular testing.

COVID-19 antiviral treatments

COVID-19 antiviral treatments are available to those with symptoms and a positive test result (PCR or rapid antigen test) who are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Find out if you’re eligible for testing or antiviral treatment or talk to your health care provider to learn more.

Masking

Ontarians may consider wearing a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in indoor public settings, especially anyone at higher risk of severe infection.  Setting-specific masking policies should be followed.

Long-term care and retirement homes

The Ministry of Long-Term Care and the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility have their own guidance that outlines masking requirements in their facilities.

Learn more about COVID-19 guidance for long-term care homes in Ontario.

Learn more about COVID-19 guidance for retirement homes in Ontario.

Businesses and organizations

Businesses and organizations may implement their own rules and policies related to masking within their settings and Ontarians should respect and follow these rules. In addition to the above advice for masking, workers may have separate requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) from their employer.

If you are a business or health care organization and you need PPE, you can find a company or business association that supplies personal protective equipment.

Exceptions to wearing a mask

In settings where masking is advised to be worn or is required, there are some situations when you should not need to wear one.

You should not need medical documentation to support any of the exceptions below.

Children

Wearing a mask is not recommended for children younger than two years old.

Health and accommodations

You should not need to wear a mask if you:

• have a medical condition that inhibits your ability to wear a face covering
• are unable to put on or remove your face covering without help from someone else
• are receiving accommodations according to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 or the Human Rights Code

Residents of care settings

Residents are not required to wear a mask in retirement homes or long-term care homes.

Temporarily taking off your mask

If you are in a setting that requires a mask, you should be able to take it off temporarily:

• to receive services that require you to take it off (for example, at the dentist or doctor’s office)
• to engage in an athletic or fitness activity
• to eat or drink
• as necessary for health and safety purposes

Learn how to choose, use and care for a mask

Learn how to make your mask fit properly