If a child or employee is positive on rapid antigen testing or is symptomatic with COVID-19 symptoms (and does not test) their household members must self-isolate while the ill individual is isolating unless:
- Household member has previously tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days;
- Household member is 18 years or older and has received booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine; OR
- Household member under 18 years and is fully vaccinated **
*NEW* if self-isolation is not required or is complete after 5 days, ALL household members must continue to ear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including child care centres) until 10 days after the last exposure to the COVID-19 case.
Household members of individuals whose symptoms don't meet the COVID-19 screening criteria or who test negative twice on rapid antigen testing (24-48 hours apart) are not required to self-isolate.
* fully vaccinated = received a full series of a Health Canada authorized vaccine (e.g. two doses of AstraZeneca/Moderna/Pfizer or 1 dose of Janssen) at least 14 days ago.
** Immunocompromised examples include cancer chemotherapy, untreated HIV infection with CD4 T lymphocyte count <200, combined primary immunodeficiency disorder, taking prednisone >20mg/day (or equivalent for more than 14 days and taking other immune suppressive medications. Factors such as advanced age, diabetes and end-stage renal disease are generally not considered immunocompromised for the purposes of isolation.
