In response to the need for enhanced protection against the new more transmissible COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC), the Ministry of Health has introduced stricter self-isolation and school screening requirements.
Enhanced self-isolation requirements are in place for all household contacts of individuals who have even one symptom of COVID-19.
Under the new guidance, all household members of an individual with even one symptom of COVID-19 are required to stay home and self-isolate until the individual with symptoms receives a negative COVID-19 test result or receives an alternate diagnosis by a health-care professional.
If the individual with symptoms does not seek COVID-19 testing, all household contacts must isolate for 14 days from their last contact with that symptomatic individual.
The provincial COVID 19 self-assessment and COVID-19 school and child-care screener have been updated to include this change and also require anyone who has a new or worsening symptom of COVID-19 — even if only one symptom — to stay home and self-isolate, again until they receive a negative COVID-19 test result, an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional or it has been 10 days since their symptom started and they are feeling better.