Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19, even if mild

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., cough, fever, difficulty breathing), use this self-assessment tool to find out how to get further care. Please note that most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own at home. Follow specific instructions for those with symptoms of COVID-19: Avoid isolating in a place where there are vulnerable people including people who have a medical condition, compromised immune systems, or older adults

Leaving your property to go for a walk is not permitted. Stay in a private place like your yard or balcony if you go outside for fresh air. Follow general instructions for those on self-isolation: Limit contact with others in the place of isolation, including children.

Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible.

Do not have visitors.

Do not leave your place of isolation unless it's to seek medical attention.

Do not use public transportation (e.g., buses, taxis).

Do not go to school, work or other public areas.

Do not go into the community, including the grocery store and pharmacy.

If you need groceries, medication or other essential items, arrange to have a family member, friend, neighbour, or anyone else who is not in self-isolation do this for you. Have items left at the door to minimize contact.

If you have to be in contact with others, practice physical distancing and keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) between yourself and the other person. Monitoring COVID-19 symptoms: Please note that most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own at home.

If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, go to your nearest emergency department and/or call 911. Criteria to discontinue self-isolation: Discontinuing self-isolation depends on if you know if you have been exposed to COVID-19 and on your COVID-19 test result.

Please refer to the following table for your situation. Exposure History Who When Known exposure to a person with COVID-19 Fourteen (14) days since your last exposure OR 14 days after your symptoms started, whichever is longer AND you have no fever AND your symptoms are improving No known exposure to a person with COVID-19 Fourteen (14) days after symptoms started AND you have no fever AND your symptoms are improving * Please note: hospitalized patients and health care workers have different criteria for discontinuing self-isolation. Please refer to the Ottawa Public Health Criteria for discharge from self-isolation and return to work for HCWs for more information. International travel Please note that if you are returning to Canada from international travel, you MUST self-isolate for fourteen (14 days) even if you don’t have any common or less common symptoms of COVID-19.

On March 25, 2020 the Government of Canada issued an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act that requires any person entering Canada by air, sea, or land to self-isolate for 14 days, except essential workers who cross the border.

that requires any person entering Canada by air, sea, or land to self-isolate for 14 days, except essential workers who cross the border. Please see canada.ca/COVID19 for more information. Continue physical distancing AFTER your self-isolation has ended – these recommendations apply to all persons: Keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) between yourself and other people.

Limit group gatherings.

Connect via phone, video chat, or social media instead of in person.

Talk to your employer about working from home (if possible).

Avoid visiting elderly friends or relatives unless the visit is essential.

Keep windows down for essential community trips via taxi or rideshares.

You can go outside for a walk, play catch/kick a ball, throw a football, fly a kite, sit on a blanket, grass or lawn chair, or exercise/stretch on a yoga mat, but not in a class (learn more on the new guidelines for the use of City parks). While outside, avoid spitting in public, avoid crowds and maintain a distance of two metres (six feet) from those around you. Make an effort to step-aside or pass others quickly and courteously on sidewalks. Passing someone on the sidewalk is not considered close contact or a significant risk for exposure to COVID-19.

Who is a close contact? A "close contact" is a person who has been in near physical proximity to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. "Close contacts" are directly contacted by OPH and receive further guidance. OPH identifies “close contacts” through a detailed review of factors such as the individual’s symptoms, where they have been, and who they have interacted with. The following people may be considered higher risk or "close contacts"; A person who came within 2 metres (6 feet) of a person who has tested positive; the longer they were within 2 metres the higher the risk*

A person who lives within the same household or provides care to a person who has tested positive (e.g., bathing, feeding or dressing)

A person with whom a person who has tested positive had close physical contact (e.g., shaking hands, or hugging)

A person who may have been coughed or sneezed on by a person who has tested positive Other factors may impact the risk of the exposure such as if the interaction occurred inside or outside or how long the interaction was. OPH will discuss these factors when speaking with people who have COVID-19 and their contacts. *metres (6 feet) of each other, such as walking by someone on the sidewalk, are generally not considered close contacts Follow general instructions for those on self-isolation: Limit contact with others in the place of isolation, including children.

Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible.

Do not have visitors.

Do not leave your place of isolation unless it's to get medical attention.

Do not use public transportation (e.g., buses, taxis).

Do not go to school, work or other public areas.

Do not go into the community, including the grocery store and pharmacy

If you need groceries, medication or other essential items, arrange to have a family member, friend, neighbour, or anyone else who is not in self-isolation do this for you. Have items left at the door to minimize contact. *If this is not possible, call 2-1-1 for information on the full range of community, social, government, and health services and programs available in Ottawa, and how to access them.

If you have to be in contact with others, practice physical distancing and keep at least 2 metres between yourself and the other person. Monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms: If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, use this self-assessment tool to find out how to get further care.

Please note that most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own at home.

If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, go to your nearest emergency department and/or call 911. Criteria to discontinue self-isolation: Discontinuing self-isolation depends on whether or not you are still in contact with a case of COVID-19. Please refer to the following table for your situation: Criteria to discontinue self-isolation: Contact history Criteria No longer in contact with someone who has COVID-19 (e.g., lives in different household OR lives in same household and can separate by using a separate bedroom and bathroom and can always maintain more than 2 metres distance from the person(s) with COVID-19) Fourteen (14) days since the last day you had contact with someone who has COVID-19 AND you have not developed any symptoms of COVID-19 Ongoing contact with someone who has COVID-19 (e.g., lives in same household and unable to separate because you continue to share the same bedroom and/or bathroom) Fourteen (14) days from the time the person with COVID-19 ends their self-isolation period AND you have not developed any symptoms of COVID-19 * Please note: hospitalized patients and health care workers have different criteria for discontinuing self-isolation. Please refer to the Ottawa Public Health Criteria for discharge from self-isolation and return to work for HCWs for more information. International travel Please note that if you are returning to Canada from international travel, you MUST self-isolate for fourteen (14 days) even if you don’t have any common or less common symptoms of COVID-19.

On March 25, 2020 the Government of Canada issued an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act that requires any person entering Canada by air, sea, or land to self-isolate for 14 days, except essential workers who cross the border.

that requires any person entering Canada by air, sea, or land to self-isolate for 14 days, except essential workers who cross the border. Please see canada.ca/COVID19 for more information. Continue physical distancing AFTER your self-isolation has ended – these recommendations apply to all persons: Keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) between yourself and other people.

Limit group gatherings.

Connect via phone, video chat, or social media instead of in person.

Talk to your employer about working from home (if possible).

Avoid visiting elderly friends or relatives unless the visit is essential.

Keep windows down for essential community trips via taxi or rideshares.

You can go outside for a walk, play catch/kick a ball, throw a football, fly a kite, sit on a blanket, grass or lawn chair, or exercise/stretch on a yoga mat, but not in a class (learn more on the new guidelines for the use of City parks). While outside, avoid spitting in public, avoid crowds and maintain a distance of two metres (six feet) from those around you. Make an effort to step-aside or pass others quickly and courteously on sidewalks. Passing someone on the sidewalk is not considered close contact or a significant risk for exposure to COVID-19.

Older adults

Ottawa Public Health states that the risk of serious illness f​rom COVID-19 increases progressively with age, particularly beyond 50 years of age. Every individual needs to consider their personal risk factors when making decisions about going out and remember to always be COVIDWise.

Those with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions

Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health is strongly urging those with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions to stay at home and self-isolate Follow general instructions for those on self-isolation: Limit contact with others in the place of isolation, including children.

Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible.

Do not have visitors.

Do not leave your place of isolation unless it's to seek medical attention.

Do not use public transportation (e.g., buses, taxis).

Do not go to school, work or other public areas.

Do not go into the community, including the grocery store and pharmacy.

If you need groceries, medication or other essential items, arranged to have a family member, friend, neighbour, or anyone else who is not in self-isolation do this for you. Have items left at the door to minimize contact. *If this is not possible, call 2-1-1 for information on the full range of community, social, government and health services and programs available in Ottawa, and how to access them.

If you have to be in contact with others, practice physical distancing and keep at least 2 metres (6 feet) between yourself and the other person. Developing COVID-19 symptoms: If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, use the Government of Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment tool to find out how to get further care.

If your symptoms are worsening to a point where you cannot manage at home, go to your nearest emergency department and/or call 911 Discontinuing self-isolation: Please follow the Government of Ontario for recommendations for when people with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions can discontinue self-isolation.

All other Ottawa residents (except those listed above)