COVID-19 Information and Guidance

If you live with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19, you do not need to isolate if you:

• 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:

• self-monitor for symptoms (external link). If you develop symptoms, get tested if you are eligible and self-isolate immediately. If more than one household members have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19, you do not need to self-isolate from each other. For more information on testing, including eligibility and results, visit the Testing for COVID-19 section on this page.
• wear a mask and avoid activities where mask removal would be necessary; and
• do not visit anyone who is at higher risk of illness, such as seniors, or any highest risk settings (unless you previously tested positive in past 90 days).

If you do not meet any of the criteria above, you must isolate while the person with symptoms/positive test result isolates (or for 10 days if you 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), extend your 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, refer to the Ministry of Health’s flowchart, “You’ve been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or someone with COVID-19 symptoms. Now what (external PDF)?” (page 23).
• Visit Ontario.ca/exposed (external link) and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment (external link) to determine steps to take after an exposure.

If you have been exposed to someone from another household with symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test results, you must do the following for the 10 days following your last exposure:

• self-monitor for symptoms. If you develop symptoms, get tested if you are eligible and self-isolate immediately;
• wear a mask, avoid activities where mask removal is necessary (such as dining out, high contact sports) and follow all other public health measures if leaving home; and
• do not visit any highest-risk settings (such as long-term care or retirement homes) or people who may be at higher risk of illness (such as seniors).

Highest-risk settings include:

• hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities);
• congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including but not limited to long-term care homes, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, correctional institutions, and hospital schools; and
• international agricultural workers.

If you live, work, attend, volunteer, or have been admitted in one of these highest-risk settings you are required to:

• tell staff at the setting that you have been exposed; and
• avoid going there for 10 days from your last exposure, unless you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days and have no symptoms.

To help ensure sufficient staffing levels, workers in these settings may be asked to return to work earlier than 10 days, with additional precautions such as testing. Speak with your employer for more information.

Milton COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic (CCFCC) (external link)

• Hours: Monday to Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.
• Location: 1225 Maple Avenue, Unit 200, Milton, ON L9T 0A5 (GoogleMaps link)
• Contact: admin@miltoncareclinic.com or 905-462-2103

This clinic is for individuals who:

• have moderate cold, flu or COVID-like symptoms and have been directed by their primary care provider; or
• need to see a physician to assess their symptoms and recommend next steps (including getting a prescription for antivirals, if eligible (external link)); or
• do not have or cannot see their primary care provider and are unwell.

Symptoms of COVID and the flu are very similar

Knowing when you should go to an Assessment Centre for a COVID test or to a COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic to help diagnose your symptoms will help you get the right care, in the right place.

Currently there is only one clinical assessment center in Halton. Individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms and cannot access a family physician can visit care-clinics.ca (external link) to book an appointment for assessment at the Milton COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic. A complete list of clinical assessment centres in Halton and across Ontario can be found on the Provincial website (external link).

If you require a test for outbound international travel, private COVID-19 tests are available for purchase throughout Ontario.

Halton Region Public Health does not have a role in actions associated with Testing and Quarantine requirements for Travel. This falls under federal jurisdiction. Please visit the Government of Canada COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders webpage for current information (external link).

If you have additional questions, please contact the Public Health Agency COVID-19 information line (external link) directly at 1-833-784-4397. Hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to midnight. Interpretation services are available in 200+ languages.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR testing) is available only to people in certain groups. Visit Ontario’s COVID-19 clinical assessments and testing webpage (external link) to find out who is eligible for PCR testing. Individuals eligible for COVID-19 antivirals are also eligible for PCR test (external link).

Members of the general public with mild symptoms should use a rapid antigen test (RAT). If you test positive on a RAT, it is highly likely that you have COVID-19. You do not need a PCR test to confirm the result.

If you’re eligible for a PCR test, you can book your appointment at a testing location near you (external link). Anyone who does not meet the eligibility criteria may be turned away if they do not qualify.

There is no clinical assessment available at the testing sites in Halton. If you want to be assessed for your symptoms, then visit your primary care physician or go to a clinical assessment center (CAC). Find a list of PCR testing sites and clinic assessment centers here (external link).

Halton Region Paramedics will only provide in-home PCR testing to palliative patients, due to changes to COVID-19 testing criteria, isolation guidelines, and the availability of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs). Eligible residents should speak to their health care provider for a referral for in-home COVID-19 testing.

While waiting for a PCR test result, isolate from others if you have COVID-19 symptoms and/or a known exposure to COVID-19. Visit Ontario.ca/exposed (external link) and complete the COVID-19 self-assessment (external link) for further instructions.

Access COVID-19 test results online by visiting covid-19.ontario.ca (external link) and selecting “Check your results”. You will need either the Ontario health card you used to take your test, or a label with a medical record number (MRN) and verification code. If you cannot access test results through this site, please contact the testing location or your health care provider.

Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are being used for routine screen testing, for those with symptoms and for “test-to-work” purposes. RATs should not be relied on as a way to determine whether to attend social activities. Instead, individuals should follow existing public health measures, regardless of RAT use.

People with symptoms

If you have symptoms and are not eligible for PCR or molecular point-of-care testing, use a rapid antigen test if you have access to one. If you have symptoms and test positive on a RAT, it is highly likely that you have COVID-19. A confirmatory PCR test is not required.

If you test negative on a RAT and still have symptoms, stay in isolation and complete a second RAT 24-48 hours later. If both RATs are negative, then it is unlikely you have COVID-19. You can end self-isolation when your symptoms have been improving for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms) and if you haven’t been isolating due to an exposure to COVID-19. Your household members may also discontinue self-isolation, as long as they don’t have symptoms and have not tested positive.

People without symptoms

Be aware that RATs have a low sensitivity for COVID-19 in people who do not have symptoms (“asymptomatic”). This means that a negative result could be a false negative in asymptomatic individuals.

Test-to-work (work self-isolation)

Rapid antigen tests used for test-to-work can support work self-isolation and meet critical workforce needs for health care workers. Rapid antigen tests can be used to support daily screening during work self-isolation. Ask your employer for more details on work-self isolation.

Depending on supply, RATs are available free of charge through the following locations:

• participating pharmacies and grocery stores. Check ontario.ca/rapidtests for locations (external link)
• elementary and secondary schools (provided by the Province) (external link)
• incorporated small and medium-sized businesses may be eligible to receive rapid tests from a Health Canada-authorized pharmacy (external link)
• eligible businesses may apply to participate in the Provincial Antigen Screening Program (external link)

If you test positive for COVID-19 on a PCR or RAT test you must self-isolate:

• for at least five days after you tested positive or your symptoms started (whichever is earlier) if you are fully vaccinated (external PDF) or are under 12 years of age.
• for at least 10 days after you tested positive or your symptoms started (whichever is earlier) if you are over the age of 12 and not fully vaccinated, are immunocompromised, or live in a highest risk setting (external PDF).

Those with a 5 day self-isolation period are not required to test again on day 5. However, if you choose to re-test and are positive on day 5 you may still be infectious and it is recommended that you extend your self-isolation period to a total of 10 days. If you have access to additional tests you can end your extended self-isolation period after one negative PCR or two negative RATs separated by 24-48 hours.

You are not required to continue self-isolation past 10 days if you do 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. Visit Ontario.ca/exposed (external link) for more information on what to do after you finish isolating.

Inform all of your household members and social contacts as soon as possible. To find out if they need to self-isolate, visit the Exposure to COVID-19 section of this page. Visit Ontario.ca/exposed (external link) for more information.

If you tested positive using a RAT test you do not need a PCR test to confirm that you are positive for most settings. You do not need to report your test results to Halton Region Public Health.

In certain situations, you may be contacted by public health. If you are contacted by public health, follow the instructions that are provided to you.

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)

Travellers entering or returning to Canada

• Fully vaccinated travellers are no longer required to quarantine upon entering Canada, as long as they do not have symptoms of COVID-19. Returning travellers must continue to follow all federal guidance. For more information on travel-related requirements, visit the Government of Canada COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders webpage (external link).
• Local Public Health Units, including Halton Region Public Health, do not have the authority to grant exemptions to the Government of Canada Quarantine Act (external link).
• Halton Region Public Health is unable to provide letters related to individual isolation requirements or end of isolation dates.

You are NOT required to provide a negative test result in order to return to work, school, child care or other activities after you have completed you isolation period.

A person can return to work, school or child care if:

• They have completed the recommended self-isolation period;
• Their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms); and
• They do not have a fever.

For individuals who have a 5 day isolation period, there is no requirement to repeat testing at the end of their isolation period. After day 5 and until day 10, they must wear a mask, avoid activities where mask removal is required (for example, dining out) and not visit high risk settings. However, if a person choses to re-test and is positive on day 5, they may still be infectious and it is recommended that they extend their isolation period to 10 days. If they have access to additional tests, the person may discontinue their extended self-isolation period prior to 10 days after one negative PCR or two negative RATs collected 24 hours apart. There is no requirement to continue self-isolation past 10 days, so long as they do not have a fever and symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms).

Those already completing a 10 day isolation period (e.g. not fully immunized or immunocompromised) are not required to extend their isolation past 10 days, so long as they do 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 self-isolation.

After completing self-isolation, regularly follow these tips for cleaning and disinfecting (external link) to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in your home.

If a child or a person who needs support with daily living (such as bathing, feeding, clothing) has COVID-19 or was exposed to COVID-19, parents and caregivers should continue providing care and support to them, but should follow additional measures to protect themselves and others in the home.

For more information, review:

• Advice about caring for individuals with COVID-19 from the Government of Canada (external link)
• Guide for Caregivers, Household Members and Close Contacts from Public Health Ontario (external PDF)

Coping with or caring for a child with symptoms of COVID-19 can be stressful. It is important to closely monitor your child. Learn more about caring for a child with COVID-19 through the Hospital for Sick Children’s COVID-19 Learning Hub (external link).

You should go to a hospital right away if your child shows the following signs and symptoms:

• Persistent fever (3 days or longer)
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish color around the lips or on skin
• Unable to drink enough fluids or signs of dehydration (e.g. not making tears when crying, urinating less than usual)
• Unable to wake up or interact
• Being irritable (e.g. not wanting to be held)

Individuals must continue to wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings for a total of 10 days (or 20 days for immunocompromised individuals) after symptom onset (or date of test, whichever is earlier). For more information, visit ontario.ca/exposed (external link).

If self-isolation is complete after 5 days, or if self-isolation is not required, for a total of 10 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive for COVID-19, ALL household members and other contacts must continue to wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings. For more information, visit ontario.ca/exposed (external link).

When wearing a mask, be sure to wear one that is well-fitted, well-constructed and fully covers your nose, mouth and chin with no gaps. Medical masks or a non-fit tested respirator (N95s, KN95s) are preferred, but a cloth mask that has at least 3 layers (e.g. two cloth layers with a filter in between) is also acceptable.

Health Canada recommendations regarding COVID-19 mask use:

• Types of masks and respirators. (external PDF)
• How to choose, use and care for a mask (external PDF)
• How to make sure your mask fits properly (external PDF)
• Advice for community settings (external)

Public Health Ontario recommendations regarding COVID-19 mask use:

• Optimizing the Use of Masks Against COVID-19 (external PDF)

Ventilation helps protect against the spread of COVID-19.

• See Health Canada’s tips on how you can improve ventilation and air filtration in your home (external PDF).
• Watch this video on ways to improve ventilation and air filtration in your home (external video).
• For more information, visit Health Canada’s COVID-19: Improving indoor ventilation webpage (external link).

Hands can carry and spread germs. Maintaining good hand hygiene is an important step to reduce the risk of becoming infected with, or spreading COVID-19.

Hand hygiene means washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

• Watch this video on how to safely wash and sanitize your hands (external video).
• For more information, visit Health Canada: COVID-19 Prevention for Individuals (external link).

Physical distancing means staying two metres (six feet) from people outside of your household whenever possible. You do not need to physically distance from people in your immediate household. However, this may change if you or they are in isolation.

Physical distancing can slow the spread of COVID-19 by stopping the chain of transmission.

• Watch this video on how to practice physical distancing (external video).
• For more information, visit Health Canada: COVID-19 Prevention for Individuals (external link).