Last updated September 21, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.
If you have symptoms of any infectious illness, take the Ontario Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Self Assessment for recommendations on what to do next. For more information, visit the Provincial website.
To prevent the spread of all infectious diseases, all individuals with new symptom(s) of any infectious illness should stay home when they are feeling sick. Stay 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. You can take a Rapid Antigen Test if you have one. Treatment must be taken within the first 5-7 days from the start of your symptoms.
COVID-19 symptoms can vary from person-to-person and may take up to 14 days after a COVID-19 exposure to appear.
If you have ONE or more of the symptoms of COVID-19 (new or worsening) below, assume that you may have the virus and be contagious. Seek testing and treatment if eligible:
If you have TWO or more of the symptoms of COVID-19 (new or worsening) below, assume that you may have the virus and be contagious. Seek testing and treatment if eligible:
Other symptoms that may be associated with COVID-19 include:
Rarely, children can get an inflammatory condition that impacts the blood vessels, called vasculitis. It can present with prolonged fever, abdominal pain, red eyes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. It needs medical attention.
If you have any of the symptoms above, you should stay home (self-isolate) while you are sick. Stay 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).
If you likely have COVID-19 based on the symptoms above, notify your close contacts. You should also:
For more information, visit our What To Do If You Have COVID-19 webpage.
If your symptoms feel worse than a common cold, call your health care practitioner or Health Connect Ontario at 811.
If you have ANY of the following signs of severe illness, you should seek immediate medical attention:
If you do not feel well enough to take personal transport, call 911:
The following infants and children should also be assessed in the emergency department:
Before going for in-person medical care, tell them that you likely have COVID-19.
If your child has any of the symptoms listed above (even if mild) they should take the COVID-19 & Respiratory Viruses Screening Questionnaire or the Ontario Ministry of Health school and child care screening to find out what to do next.
Learn more about what to do if your child has COVID-19 symptoms.
Long COVID (also called post-COVID condition or syndrome, long-term COVID, or chronic COVID) is when a person has ongoing or new symptoms at least four weeks after getting COVID-19. People who have long COVID are sometimes known as “long haulers.”
In North America, it is estimated that one out of three people (30%) who had COVID-19 will get long COVID. Anyone who gets COVID-19 can develop long COVID. It can occur in people with a mild to severe COVID-19 infection with or without symptoms, but is more likely after a severe infection.
Long COVID is diagnosed when someone has ongoing or new symptoms at least four weeks after a COVID-19 infection that are not from another health condition or illness. There is currently no test to diagnose long COVID.
Symptoms of long COVID may continue from the initial COVID-19 infection, or may be new, change or get worse over time. People with long COVID are not contagious and cannot spread COVID-19 to others, even though they have symptoms.
Long COVID can affect both adults and children differently.
Other symptoms can also occur. Someone with long COVID can get COVID-19 again. People who have new COVID-19 symptoms should get tested, if they are eligible. Some people are also eligible for COVID-19 treatment.
There is currently no specific treatment for long COVID.
We do not know why some people develop long COVID while others are not affected. The best way to reduce your risk is to avoid getting COVID-19 by staying up-to-date with vaccines plus any booster dose(s), and continuing to follow public health measures whenever possible.
People who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are less likely to develop long COVID. Vaccination can also protect from severe COVID-19 infections. If you are vaccinated and get COVID-19, the vaccine may also lower your risk of long COVID symptoms compared to someone who did not get the vaccine.
Speak to your healthcare provider if you think you have long COVID.
Stay up-to-date on vaccination for the best protection against COVID-19.