COVID-19: What to Do If You Have COVID-19

Last updated: April 28, 2023

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To reduce the spread of all respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, anyone who feels sick should stay home and complete the self-assessment tool to learn more about what to do next. Find out if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatment, continue to follow public health measures and stay up-to-date with your vaccinations including a COVID-19 booster for the best protection.

Stay at home until you have no fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea).

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you may be eligible for COVID-19 testing and treatment. Treatment must be taken within the first 5-7 days from the start of your symptoms.

You are considered a person with COVID-19 if ANY of the following apply:

  • You have tested positive for COVID-19 on a PCR, Rapid Molecular, or Rapid Antigen test.
  • You have been told by Toronto Public Health that you have a “probable case” of COVID-19.
  • You are not eligible for testing but you likely have COVID-19 based on your symptoms.

For more information on what to do if you are a person with COVID-19, visit the Provincial website.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms (even if mild), it is recommended that you stay home (self-isolate) while you are sick.

This means:

  • Staying home until you have no fever and your symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you have gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea).
  • After isolating, wear a well-fitted, high quality mask when out in public for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
  • Avoid non-essential visits to vulnerable individuals (e.g. seniors) and highest risk settings (e.g., hospitals, long-term care) for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
  • Follow this advice whether you have tested for COVID-19 or not.
  • Make sure you know if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatments and how to get tested and access treatment if you are eligible.

To find out how long you need to self-isolate, complete the COVID-19 Self Assessment. Follow Public Health Ontario’s instructions on how to self-isolate.

If you tested positive for COVID-19, but do not have any symptoms, you are not required to self-isolate.  You should self-monitor for symptoms and self-isolate if symptoms develop. Wear a well-fitted, high quality mask when in public settings, especially if they are crowded or have poor ventilation, and avoid non-essential visits to vulnerable individuals (e.g. seniors) and high risk settings for 10 days from your positive test date.

Individuals with a weak immune system should isolate for at least 10 days (from symptom onset or positive test date) regardless if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Note: The Toronto Voluntary Isolation Centre is closed. If you have questions about self-isolation, you can call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 (Monday to Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

To stop the spread of COVID-19, it is important that you notify your close contacts, so that they can self-monitor for symptoms and self-isolate (stay home) if symptoms develop. A close contact is anyone who you spent time with when you were infectious.

  • If you have COVID-19 symptoms, your infectious period began 48 hours before your symptoms started.
  • If you do not have COVID-19 symptoms, your infectious period began 48 hours before your positive COVID-19 test date.

Close contacts include:

  • Anyone you live with;
  • Anyone who was within 2 metres (6 feet) of you for 15 minutes or more, without a well-fitted, high quality mask;
  • Anyone you had multiple close encounters with over a 24-hour period (even if each was less than 15 minutes) without a well-fitted, high quality mask;
  • Anyone you had close, physical contact with (e.g. hugging) without a well-fitted, high quality mask

Close contacts do not include:

  • People you had brief, close contact with while wearing a well-fitted, high quality mask and/or with a barrier (e.g. Plexiglas) in place.
  • People who you passed by quickly.
  • People you greeted while staying 2 metres (6 feet) apart.
  • Someone who made a delivery to you while you were self-isolating, but who did not have close contact with you.

Please refer your close contact to the what to do if you are a close contact webpage for more information.

Resources

What is a High-Risk Setting?

High-risk settings are settings where there are vulnerable populations and/or where risk for transmission is greatest. High-risk settings include:

  • Hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities)
  • Congregate living settings, e.g. 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

COVID-19 Cases in High-Risk Settings

If you live in a high-risk setting, you must self-isolate for at least 5-10 days after the positive test date or symptom onset (whichever is earlier), depending on the setting. Follow the isolation direction provided by the setting. Self-isolate for your required isolation period and until you have no fever and your symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea).

If you work/volunteer/attend a high-risk settings you should follow the direction in the Stay Home and Self-Isolate section above. Generally, you can return to work after 10 days. Speak to your employer and follow workplace instructions for return to work.

If you work in a high-risk setting, tell your employer that you have tested positive for COVID-19 and follow workplace policies.

If you do not work in a high risk setting, it is recommended that you tell your employer to decrease the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be contacted by the Assessment Centre or Toronto Public Health. You may receive either a text message, a call, or both in some cases.

If you receive a text message from Toronto Public Health, it will be from 77000. If you have any questions about text messages from Toronto Public Health, you can call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600. Please do no reply to these text messages as your message will not be received.

The information on this page provides the direction on what you need to do; see the self-isolate section for how long you should self-isolate.

As part of your call you may be:

  • Provided with your test results.
  • Asked about your symptoms and when they may have started.
  • Asked if you visited any high-risk settings during your infectious period.
  • Provided with education about self-isolation, additional precautions to prevent the spread, and when you can return to work or school.
  • Provided with information about what to tell any close contacts.

Keep track of your symptoms so you can tell a health care provider how you have been feeling. Learn more on when to seek medical attention.

You do not need a test to show you have recovered from COVID-19 or to end your isolation.  Re-testing is not recommended because you may still test positive for several weeks even though you are no longer infectious.

A negative test, doctor’s note, or clearance letter is not required for you to return to work and Toronto Public Health does not provide return-to-work letters.

In general, you can return to work, school, and your everyday activities when you have no fever and your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours if you have gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea).

If you work in a high-risk setting,  you can return to work after 10 days from positive test date or symptom onset (whichever is earlier), or sooner in some instances. Speak to your employer and follow workplace policies.

Toronto Public Health recommends that you continue to practice prevention measures. These include hand washing and physical distancing, where possible. Toronto Public Health also recommends wearing a well-fitted, high quality mask when in indoor public settings, especially if they are crowded or have poor ventilation or if you are around people who are at higher risk (such as seniors or those with a weak immune system). Masks are especially recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously sick from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Masks are still required in some settings.

You may feel lingering effects of your illness even after your self-isolation period ends. Please speak with your health care provider or call Health Connect Ontario at 811 if you need further care.

If you have questions about your self-isolation period or whether you can return to work, call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600.

  • Getting COVID-19 while you are pregnant puts you at higher risk of getting very sick and being hospitalized
  • Preventing COVID-19 is even more important when you are pregnant – follow public health measures to lower your risk
  • Having COVID-19 while pregnant may increase the following risks:
    • To you:
      • Ending up in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) or on a ventilator
      • High blood pressure
      • Getting a C-section (caesarean birth)
    • To baby:
      • Premature birth (giving birth too early)
      • Ending up in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
      • Having a low birth weight
      • Stillbirth
  • Getting treatment for COVID-19 can help lower the risk of serious illness and hospitalization
    • If you are pregnant and have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive, speak to your healthcare provider as soon as possible to find out if you are eligible for treatment

For information about vaccination, see Vaccinations While Pregnant or Breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding (also known as chest feeding) your baby is recommended even if you have COVID-19. This is because breast milk has many health benefits for babies, including protection from different illnesses.

Research shows:

  • Protective antibodies are in the breastmilk of people who got the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Protection against COVID-19 may be passed to baby through breastfeeding.
  • Breast milk does not spread COVID-19 to babies.

If you have COVID-19 and are breastfeeding:

  • Clean your hands before and after breastfeeding, expressing breastmilk and caring for your baby.
  • Wear a well-fitted face mask while breastfeeding and whenever you are within 6 feet of your baby while you are contagious
  • Monitor your baby for symptoms of COVID-19
  • Take care of yourself. Drink plenty of fluids, eat regularly throughout the day and make sleep/rest a priority.
  • Follow all self-isolation instructions.

If you have COVID-19 and choose to express breast milk:

  • Use your own breast pump and do not share with anyone else, if possible
  • Wear a mask when you express breast milk
  • Clean your hand before and after touching any pump or bottle parts
  • Make sure any bottles are properly sterilized
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for pump cleaning after each use

If you have made an informed decision to feed your baby infant formula:

  • Ask someone who is well to feed the baby, if possible
  • Clean your hands and wear a face mask while preparing formula, handling bottles and feeding the baby.
  • Sterilize bottles and equipment.
  • Try to have a three day supply of formula on hand.
  • If your baby is under two months of age, use liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formula.
  • Homemade infant formula is not recommended because it does not have enough nutrition for your baby. Learn more about infant formula.

All caregivers must practice good hygiene, including hand washing and wearing a face mask, before touching the baby, breast pump, or feeding bottles and equipment.

If you feel too sick to breastfeed or are not with your baby, try to hand express or pump your milk at least eight times in 24 hours, and once during the night. This will help keep up your breastmilk supply.

Learn more about breastfeeding and COVID-19 and breastfeeding.

Also see information about vaccinations while breastfeeding.

  • If you have COVID-19 symptoms or test positive, you must follow all self-isolation instructions.
  • You can still hold your baby skin-to-skin and stay in the same room as them, especially when bonding and breastfeeding.
  • To lower the chance of spreading the virus to your baby or child:
    • Clean your hands before touching your baby or child.
    • When awake, wear a well-fitted high-quality mask over your nose, chin and mouth whenever you are within 6 feet of your baby/child and other people during your entire isolation period. Children over the age of two should also wear a well-fitted face mask when they are near you.
    • If sleeping in the same room as your baby or child, make sure the space is well ventilated and maximize the physical distance between you.
    • Have your older child sleep in their own room if possible.
    • If you share a bathroom with your child, clean frequently touched surfaces (counters, faucets, doorknobs and toilet handles) after each use and close the lid of the toilet before flushing it.
    • Avoid eating with your child.
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your home.
  • If possible, ask a caregiver or family member to help care for your child. This person should: be up to date with all COVID-19 vaccinations, not have any COVID-19 symptoms, and not be at a higher risk for severe illness. If you require support, please call 211.
  • Once you are feeling well and have finished isolating, the best way to protect yourself and your child is to ensure your entire household gets vaccinated for COVID-19.

More information