COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

Effective January 31, 2022, Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health has rescinded her letter of instructions for workplaces under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. See here for a copy of the MOH’s rescinding letter (PDF file).

Workplaces continue to play a critical role in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in Halton Region. Compliance with all provincial rules under the Reopening Ontario Act and with the advice and recommendations of public health officials that apply to your workplace – all of which will continue to evolve – is essential.

Employers should refer to the following resources for guidance on COVID-19 requirements for businesses:

• Halton Region Public Health: COVID-19 Public Health Guidelines: Organizations and Businesses COVID-19 Resources for Businesses
• Ministry of Health: Sector-specific guidelines COVID-19 and Workplace Health and Safety (external link)
• Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development: Workplace Resources to Prevent COVID-19 Workplace Resources to Prevent COVID-19 (external link)

Businesses should continue to take steps to protect workers and patrons from COVID-19. Businesses and organizations may choose to continue to require proof of vaccination.

The Province has made COVID-19 vaccination policies mandatory in certain high-risk settings (external link), for example, long term care homes, hospitals and others.

If your workplace is not a high-risk setting, Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hamidah Meghani, recommends that all employers address the need for a workplace vaccination policy and has issued Recommendations for Establishing a COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Policy (PDF file). A workplace vaccination policy is an important measure employers can implement to protect their workers and the public.

For more information refer to the Vaccination Information for Employers section on the COVID-19 Resources for Businesses page.

• Immediately send the worker home to self-isolate if they:
  • develop symptoms (external PDF) at work; or
  • screen positive on the daily COVID-19 screen required for all workers; or
  • test positive on a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for COVID-19.
• Clean and disinfect any surfaces the worker may have touched.
• If the worker is already at home when they begin to experience symptoms, direct them not to enter the workplace.
• Direct the worker to take the COVID-19 self-assessment (external link) and follow the directions provided.
• For information on how to self-isolate please visit the following links:
  • How to self-isolate (external PDF)
  • How to care for someone with COVID-19 (external PDF)
  • How To care for a child who needs to self-isolate (external PDF)

• A rapid antigen test (RAT) may be used to assess the likelihood that symptoms are related to COVID-19.
• A positive RAT means it is extremely likely the worker has COVID-19, and they are required to self-isolate according to the criteria provided in the COVID-19 self-assessment (external link).
• Positive RATs do NOT need to be reported to Halton Region Public Health.

If a worker has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19, they must self-isolate:

• for at least five days if they are fully vaccinated (external PDF), or
• for at least 10 days if they are over the age of 12 and not fully vaccinated, are immunocompromised, or live in a highest risk settings.

If the worker reaches the end of their isolation period and has a fever and/or other symptoms, they must continue to isolate until their symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if the symptoms affect the digestive system) and you have no fever.

Workers should visit Ontario.ca/exposed (external link) for more information.

• If a symptomatic worker (who has not tested positive and has not been exposed to COVID-19) tests negative on two consecutive Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) separated by 24-48 hours, they are less likely to have a COVID-19 infection. The worker can end self-isolation when their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms), and they do not have a fever. There is no minimum isolation period (for example, 5 or 10 days).

If a worker’s household member has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19, they are not required to self-isolate if they:

• have tested positive in the last 90 days and do not have symptoms;
• are over 18 years of age and have received a COVID-19 booster dose; or
• are under 18 years of age and are fully vaccinated (external PDF).

Instead, for 10 days after exposure, they must:

• self-monitor for symptoms. If they develop symptoms, they should get tested if eligible and self-isolate immediately;
• wear a mask and avoid activities where mask removal would be necessary; and
• not visit anyone who is at higher risk of illness, such as seniors, or any highest risk settings (unless they previously tested positive in past 90 days).

If the worker does not meet any of the criteria above, they must isolate while their household members with symptoms or positive test result isolates (or for 10 days if they are immunocompromised).

• For self-isolating household members that have not developed symptoms:
• If any other household member develops COVID-19 symptoms (or tests positive for COVID-19), they should extend their self-isolation until the last symptomatic (or COVID-19 positive) person has finished their self-isolation period.
• The initial person who had COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 does not have to extend their self-isolation period if other household members develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.

• For more information, visit Ontario.ca/exposed (external link) and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment (external link) to determine steps to take after an exposure.

• If possible, identify and notify people who were in contact with the worker with COVID-19 during the time they could have spread their infection to others. This period begins 48 hours prior to the worker with COVID-19 developing symptoms (or 48 hours before they were tested if no symptoms).
• Employers should direct contacts to take the COVID-19 self-assessment (external link) to determine whether they need to self-isolate.

• As of December 30 2021, there is no longer a requirement for employers to report positive cases in the workplace to public health. Please do not contact Halton Region Public Health to report positive cases in the workplace. Due to the high number of Omicron cases in Ontario, individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 can be presumed to be positive.

• If a worker has access to a rapid antigen test (RAT) and tests positive on Day 5 of self-isolation, it is likely that they are still infectious. It is recommended that the worker extend their isolation period to 10 days.
• If the worker has access to additional tests, they can end their extended isolation period after one negative PCR test or two consecutive negative RATs separated by 24-48 hours.
• There is no requirement to continue self-isolation past 10 days, so long as the worker does not have a fever and symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms). It is important to maintain masking, physical distancing and adherence to all other public health measures if leaving home, following isolation.

• PCR testing is being prioritized for those at increased risk of severe outcomes and those living and working in highest-risk settings. Employers cannot require that employees seek out a COVID-19 test at this time and cannot require a doctor’s or nurse’s note.
• Questions can be directed to the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (external link) or by calling the ministry’s Employment Standards Information Centre, which is available in multiple languages, at 1-800-531-5551.

To align with the provincial guidance changes (external link), the Halton Region Mask No. By-Law 47-20 has been rescinded.

Learn more about when masks are still required.

While the Mask By-law No. 47-20 has been rescinded, there are some settings where the provincial mask mandates are still in place until June 11, 2022. These include but are not limited to:

• public transit
• long-term care, retirement homes and other health-care settings
• shelters, and other congregate care settings that provide care and services to medically and socially vulnerable individuals.

Other situations when masking will continue to be required are when:

• isolating or self-monitoring due to COVID-19
• travelling on a plane regardless of vaccination status (external link); or
• attending businesses or organizations who have kept mask mandates

Effective March 21, 2022, Halton Region has rescinded its Mask By- Law No. 47-20 to align with the province lifting mask mandate for most settings. Learn more about when masks are still required.

Businesses may choose to request that employees and customers wear a mask.