Individuals with Symptoms, Positive Cases, Close Contacts
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The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will only be following up with COVID-19 cases associated with highest-risk settings (e.g. hospitals, shelters, long-term care).
If you are unsure what your next steps should be, complete the online self-assessment. For students and children, complete the COVID-19 school and child care screening.
For medical or health advice, contact your health care provider or Health811 toll-free at 8-1-1. If you are having difficulty breathing or experiencing severe symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Additional Guidance & Resources
- How to Self-Monitor – FR
- How to Self-Isolate – FR
- Guide for Caregivers, Household Members and Close Contacts – FR
- Rapid Antigen Testing: How to Collect a Sample (multiple languages)
If you are caring for a child or infant with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and require additional guidance, you may contact our Healthy Families Hotline at 519-258-2146 ext. 1350 to speak with a public health nurse.
Guidance for Individuals in Highest Risk Settings
Highest risk settings include:
- Hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities)
- Congregate living settings with medically and social vulnerable individuals
- International Agricultural Workers
Congregate living settings with medically and socially vulnerable individuals, including, but not limited to, long-term care, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, correctional institutions, Provincial Demonstration Schools and hospital schools.
- Self-isolate immediately. If you are fully vaccinated or under age 12, self-isolate for 5 days. If you are partially vaccinated, unvaccinated, or immunocompromised, self-isolate for 10 days.
- If you have not already, get tested as soon as possible.
- Do not attend work for 10 days after symptom onset, or test if asymptomatic.
Workers may be able to return to work early (i.e. before the 10 day isolation is complete) during staffing shortages. For employer guidance for return to work, visit the Ministry of Health Guidance Document.
- Self-isolate immediately for 10 days AND until you have no fever and symptoms are improving for 24 hours (48 hours if gastrointestinal).
- This applies, regardless of your vaccination status.
- The day you first experience symptoms or are tested is counted as “day 0”.
- Notify the setting immediately.
- If you have not already, get tested as soon as possible.
- Self-isolate immediately for 10 days.
- This applies, regardless of your vaccination status.
- Notify the setting of the exposure immediately.
- Get tested as soon as possible.
- After 10 days, if you do not have symptoms you can stop isolating.
- Self-monitor for symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure.
- Report the exposure to your employer. Your employer and/or the WECHU may provide additional direction.
- Wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings for at least 10 days.
- Do not visit anyone who is immunocompromised or at higher risk of illness (i.e. seniors).
- Do not work in the highest risk setting for 10 days after the last exposure, unless required for critical work shortages.
- Individuals who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days (confirmed with a PCR or RAT) can attend work, as long as they remain asymptomatic.