Toronto Public Health is partnering with Outbreaks Near Me to monitor the frequency of COVID-like symptoms in Toronto. Help us learn how symptoms of COVID-19 may be moving through our community by completing a short survey about your current symptoms.
To reduce the spread of all respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, anyone who feels sick should stay home. Find out if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatment, continue to follow public health measures and stay up-to-date with your vaccinations for 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.

The Ontario College of Family Physicians have created a fact sheet with tips for parents/guardians on caring for children with respiratory symptoms, including how to help support your sick child at home and when to call a health care provider for a respiratory illness.

Speak to a healthcare provider or call 811 (Health Connect Ontario) if you have questions about your child’s health.

More resources:

If you are caring for or living with someone who has a respiratory illness, such as COVID-19 and the flu, follow these steps to reduce the spread of illness at home:

Clean your hands often

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for 15 seconds after being in contact with the person who has symptoms and throughout the day.
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available.

Wear a mask, gloves and eye protection

  • Wear a high quality well-fitted mask when you are caring for someone with symptoms. Encourage the person with symptoms to wear a mask, if possible (do not put masks on children under two years old).
  • Use gloves and eye protection if you have contact with the person’s body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, vomit, urine or feces).
  • After providing care, take off your gloves before removing your eye protection and mask. Clean your hands after taking off each item.
  • Place disposable used items in a garbage bin lined with a plastic bag, and clean your hands after handling garbage.

Limit interactions with the sick person

  • Limit visitors to those who are essential (e.g. support or home care professionals) and keep visits short
  • Have the person with symptoms self-isolate as much as possible, especially from people who are at high-risk of serious illness from respiratory viruses
  • As much as possible, keep a physical distance from all others in the household
  • Avoid sleeping in the same bed as your sick child

Avoid sharing

  • Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding or other items with the person who has symptoms.
  • All items should be washed between each use.

Household cleaning

  • Clean & disinfect frequently-touched items, including countertops, light switches, toilets, faucets, and doorknobs.
  • After use, items should be washed with liquid soap or detergent in warm water. Dishwashers and washing machines can be used.
  • Items used by the person with symptoms can be washed with other items.
  • Regular household cleaners or detergents can be used. Choose a cleaning product that cleans and disinfects. Follow product instructions.

Improve ventilation and air flow

  • Increase natural air flow by opening windows if it is safe to do so, using portable fans or ceiling fans
  • Use and maintain HVAC systems or use portable air cleaners, if possible, and keep vents clear from items
  • Learn more about improving ventilation and air flow.

Check for symptoms

Resources