Have symptoms or been exposed to COVID-19

COVID-19 is a new respiratory virus, that is commonly spread through respiratory droplets or by touching something that had the virus on it.

While some people may experience flu-like symptoms, others may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. People can spread the virus before they start showing symptoms and can remain infectious for 10 days or longer after their symptoms started.

It's important that you do not ignore symptoms, even if they are mild, to avoid spreading COVID-19.

Common symptoms include:

• fever
• new or worsening cough
• shortness of breath

A range of other symptoms may include:

• sore throat or trouble swallowing
• runny nose or stuffy nose
• new loss of sense of smell or taste
• nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
• not feeling well (tired or sore muscles)
• headache

Look for symptoms that are new, getting worse, or different than usual for you.

Less common symptoms may occur. Special attention should be paid if they happen in children, seniors, and people living with a developmental disability.

For more information, the Ontario Ministry of Health provides an outline of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, self-isolate and get tested.

A close contact is someone who was exposed to a person with COVID-19 while that person was infectious. This means being exposed to the infectious person 2 days before their symptoms started, or 2 days before the person got tested if they had no symptoms. It also includes either of the following:

• Having 15 minutes of total unprotected exposure (without a medical mask and eye protection) within 2 metres of the person with COVID-19.
• Being directly coughed or sneezed on by the person with COVID-19.
• This could include someone you live, work, or go to school or child care with.

You're also a close contact if you're caring for someone with COVID-19 without using proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Find out what precautions to take if you're caring for someone with COVID-19.

What to do if you're a close contact

If you're a close contact, you will likely be notified by the person with COVID-19 who you came into contact with. Public health will notify close contacts only in specific outbreak situations. You may also receive a notification through the COVID Alert app.

If you're notified that you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you must immediately self-isolate from others and book an appointment to get tested.

Learn what to do if you can't safely self-isolate at home from the people you live with.

If you're unsure if you should be tested for COVID-19, speak to a health care provider or take the online self-assessment to help you decide.

If you have symptoms but don't get tested

You must self-isolate for at least 10 days from the start of your symptoms and remain in self-isolation until your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours and you have no fever (your temperature remains lower than 37.8 C without the use of medication).

You must not leave your home or go to work or school during this time. Your household contacts must self-isolate for at least 14 days from their last exposure to you.

If you were exposed to a person with COVID-19 but don't get tested

You must self-isolate for at least 14 days after your last exposure to a person with COVID-19.

You may have to self-isolate for more than 14 days in certain situations, such as if you were unable to self-isolate away from the person with COVID-19, if you were re-exposed to COVID-19 during this time, or, if you test positive for COVID-19.

Your household contacts do not need to self-isolate unless you develop symptoms.

Find out what to do if you have a child attending school or going to child care.

Peel's requirement to self-isolate

In Peel, self-isolation is a requirement under the Class Order issued by the Medical Officer of Health under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Find out what the Class Order on self-isolation means for you.

If you travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days:

• You must stay in self-isolation for 14 days from the date you returned to Canada, even if you tested negative for COVID-19. Find out how to properly self-isolate.
• For more information, check the instructions for travellers.

If you’re a health care worker or work in a health care facility and have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19, or you've been exposed to a person who has COVID-19, follow the occupational health policy at your workplace and refer to our health care workers section for more information on testing and self-isolation guidance.