Ontario has scrapped its mandatory five-day isolation rule for people who test positive for COVID-19 as part of a “whole respiratory virus approach” to an expected surge in general illnesses in the fall.
Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Kieran Moore, said Wednesday that people who feel sick should self-isolate while they have symptoms and return to work or school 24 hours after their symptoms end .
Masks must be worn for about 10 days after a person ends their voluntary self-isolation period, Moore said, but it will not be mandatory.
“Typically, we’ll see the respiratory virus season start at the end of September, and so this advisory is being put in place to guide that risk,” Moore told reporters at a press conference announcing the expansion of the COVID-19 boosters for young children. .
“So this is a respiratory virus approach, because the complexity will increase this year, as other respiratory viruses will circulate in our schools and workplaces.”
When asked if people who test positive on a rapid test or PCR, but no longer have symptoms, can go out in public, Moore said yes with “extra precautions.”
“The caveat is that we also want to maintain high levels of protection on an ongoing basis by keeping up with all our vaccines, but in particular keeping up with the vaccination against COVID-19,” he said.
Moore said the advice provided Wednesday is for the general public and that more specifics may be released for jobs, such as long-term care, that are at higher risk.
Patients are asked to refrain from visiting this type of vulnerable environment.
Schools, however, do not appear to be on the list of vulnerable environments being considered for further COVID-19 recommendations. Moore said that improved ventilation, as well as cleaning policies within these facilities, will help reduce the spread of the virus.
He urged people to wear masks continuously for 10 full days if they are sick, and that this precaution, along with other measures, “should decrease the risk of all respiratory viruses in our communities.”
Moore said the Ontario government has taken a cautious approach to changing the guidelines, citing other provinces that have already taken “a generic approach to all respiratory viruses,” such as Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
“We wanted to make more progress on the seventh wave before we rolled it out and also have it available to schools to make sure we can reduce the effect of all respiratory viruses in the classroom and also in the workplace.” .
The last time isolation guidelines were changed in Ontario was in late December 2021, when Moore shortened the required isolation period from 10 to five days for vaccinated people.
As it stands, the new policy applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
While Moore encourages sick people to stay home when they are unwell, Ontarians are only covered for three paid sick days under the temporary pandemic program.
Doug Ford’s government has not yet said whether it plans to make this program permanent.
The program will expire in March 2023.