Ontario is updating COVID-19 testing and isolation guidelines in response to the Omicron variant.
Starting today (December 31), publicly-funded PCR testing will be available only for high-risk individuals who are symptomatic and/or are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Members of the general public with mild symptoms are asked not to seek testing. The province says positive rapid antigen tests will no longer require PCR confirmation.
Ontario is also changing the required isolation period. Individuals with COVID-19 who are vaccinated and children under 12, will be required to isolate for five days following the onset of symptoms. If you are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised you will need to isolate for 10 days.
Those who work or live in high-risk health care settings are recommended to return to work after 10 days from their last exposure or symptom onset or from their date of diagnosis.
To ensure sufficient staffing levels, workers will have the opportunity to return to work after isolating for seven days with negative PCR or rapid antigen test results, which will be provided by the province through the health care setting.
