Ontario has lifted its five-day mandatory isolation rule for people who test positive for COVID-19 as part of an “all-virus respiratory approach” to a projected increase in general illnesses at the facility. ‘fall.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, said Wednesday that people who feel sick should self-isolate while showing symptoms and return to work or school 24 hours after they finish. of their symptoms.
Masks should be worn for about 10 days after an individual completes their period of self-isolation, Moore said, but that not be required to do so.
“Normally we will see the respiratory virus season start around the end of September and so this advice is being implemented to guide that risk,” Moore told reporters at a press conference announcing the expansion of COVID-19 boosters. for young children. .
“So this is an all-viral respiratory approach because the complexity will increase this year as other respiratory viruses circulate in our schools and workplaces.”
When asked if people who test positive in a rapid or PCR test, but are no longer symptomatic, can go out in public, Moore said yes with “extra precautions.”
“The caveat is that we also want to maintain high levels of protection by keeping up to date with all our vaccinations, but in particular keeping up to date with the COVID-19 vaccination,” he said. .
Moore said the guidance provided on Wednesday is intended for the general public and that new specifications may be released for workplaces, such as long-term care, which pose a higher risk.
Sick people are asked to refrain from visiting such vulnerable places.
Schools, however, do not appear to be on the list of vulnerable settings being considered for new COVID-19 recommendations. Moore said improved ventilation, along with cleaning policies at these facilities, will help reduce the spread of the virus.
He urged people to wear masks continuously for a full 10 days when sick, and that this precaution in addition to other measures “should reduce 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 for all respiratory viruses,” such as Nova Scotia and British Columbia. .
“We wanted to go further into the seventh wave before we put this in place and also make it available to schools to ensure that we can mitigate the effect of all respiratory viruses in the classroom and also in the workplace. .”
The last time isolation guidelines were changed in Ontario was at the end of December 2021, when Moore shortened the required isolation period from 10 days to five for those vaccinated.
As it stands, the new policy applies to everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
While Moore encourages sick people to stay home when they’re not feeling well, Ontarians are only covered for three paid sick days under the temporary pandemic program.
The government of Doug Ford has not yet said whether it intends to make this program permanent.
The program is due to expire in March 2023.
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