COVID-19 Self-isolation, Sick & Vaccination Leave

Updated January 20, 2022

I have COVID-19 symptoms but was not tested:

You need to isolate until your symptoms improve, you no longer have a fever, and you feel well enough to return to normal activities.

I tested positive for COVID-19 and have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination:

You need to self-isolate at home for 5 days AND until your symptoms improve and you no longer have a fever.  You do not need to be retested for COVID-19 to end your self-isolation period.

I tested positive for COVID-19 and do not have two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination:

If you are 18 years of age or older, you need to self-isolate at home for 10 days AND until you no longer have a fever AND your symptoms improve.

If you are under 18 years of age, you need to self-isolate at home for 5 days AND until you no longer have a fever AND your symptoms improve.

For more information, visit the B.C. Centre for Disease Control website.

Updated January 19, 2022

Fully vaccinated (2 doses or 1 dose Janssen):

• Isolate for 5 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition.
• For 5 days following isolation, wear a mask at all times when around others outside of home.

Not fully vaccinated (1 dose or less):

• Isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition.

If you test negative and have symptoms, you should still stay home and away from others until symptoms resolve. Close contacts of positive cases are no longer required to quarantine for 14 days. Federal border measures still apply for all international travellers entering Canada.

For more complete information on self-isolation, visit Alberta’s provincial website.

Updated March 1, 2022

There is no longer an isolation requirement for vaccinated or unvaccinated residents, and only a recommendation that people stay home when they are ill.

Updated January 19, 2022

There are different isolation periods for people who have been vaccinated and people who have not been vaccinated.

People who are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms (PCR or rapid antigen test):

• Must isolate for 5 days from the date of their positive test. 

People who are fully vaccinated and have symptoms (PCR or rapid antigen test):

• Must isolate for 5 days from the day their symptoms started or the date of the test, whichever is later. They must also continue to isolate until they no longer have a fever and their other symptoms have been improving over the past 24 hours.
• Fully vaccinated people who have finished their isolation must wear a medical grade mask in public settings for five days and avoid any non-essential visits to high-risk settings or non-essential contact with individuals at high risk for severe disease.

People who are not fully vaccinated:

• Must isolate for 10 days from the date of their positive test. They must also continue to isolate until they no longer have a fever and their other symptoms have been improving over the past 24 hours.

Lingering symptoms such as cough or loss of taste or smell can persist beyond the isolation period, and if present, are not reasons for continuing isolation.

For more complete information on self-isolation, visit Manitoba’s provincial website.

Updated September 1, 2022

On Wednesday, August 31, 2022, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kieran Moore announced that the province will drop mandatory five-day isolation for those having tested positive for COVID-19. People would be able to resume work or school 24 hours after symptoms have stopped.

For more complete information on self isolation, visit Ontario’s provincial website.

Updated January 19, 2022

People age 12 and over who are fully vaccinated:  

• Isolate for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or from the test date if you have no symptoms.
  • After 5 days of isolation, you can resume activities if symptoms improve and you have had no fever for at least 24 hours (without having taken fever medication).
  • For the next 5 days:
    • Wear a mask during any social interaction
    • Practise 2-metre social distancing (if possible)
    • If these conditions cannot be met, continue to self-isolate for 5 more days.

People age 12 and over who are not fully vaccinated:

• 10 days from the onset of symptoms or from the test date if you have no symptoms.

For more complete information on self-isolation, visit Quebec’s provincial website.

Updated January 6, 2022

Fully vaccinated and close household contacts:

• Minimum of 5-day isolation.

Unvaccinated people and their household contacts:

• Minimum of 10-day isolation. 

Following release from isolation, all people must wear a mask continuously for the next 5 days.  Close contacts outside of a household will be asked to mask continuously, avoid vulnerable settings and people, and limit their contacts as much as possible for at least 10 days.

See New Brunswick’s press release.

Updated January 6, 2022

Fully vaccinated or a child 11 years old or younger:

• Minimum 7-day isolation.
• Close contacts must engage in work/school isolation while getting tested.

Partially / Unvaccinated / Immunocompromised:

• Minimum 10 day isolation
• Close contacts must engage isolate for 7 days (with specific testing).

For more details, please see Nova Scotia’s press release. 

Updated September 8, 2022

Announced on September 8, 2022, an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 will now only require five days of isolation, according to new rules from the PEI government, as opposed to the previous seven-day isolation. Following the isolation, these individuals will be required to wear a mask in indoor public places for an additional five days.

Updated January 6, 2022

People who are fully vaccinated and close household contacts:

• Minimum of 7-day isolation.

Household contacts (of fully vaccinated people) who can isolate away from the case and non-household contacts:

• Minimum of 5-day isolation

Unvaccinated people and their household contacts:

• Minimum of 10-day isolation. 

See press release.

Updated February 22, 2022

Fully vaccinated individuals with a booster:

• Should avoid close contact with a confirmed case.
• Following the seven-day period of isolation, if no symptoms present, those contacts may leave isolation but should continue self-monitoring for seven more days because they may start experiencing symptoms of Omicron in that second seven-day period.

Partially or unvaccinated individuals, or individuals had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine with the last dose more than 6 months ago;

• Should isolate for ten days.

In addition to being vaccinated, it is strongly recommended that Yukoners continue to combine limiting their contacts and following the Safe 6 plus 1: keep your distance; keep your hands clean; if you feel sick, stay home; avoid crowds; avoid travelling to communities; self-isolate if necessary; and wear a mask.

For more complete information, visit Yukon’s website.

Updated February 22, 2022

All persons who have been identified by a Medical Health Officer or representative of the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer as Person Under Investigation shall self-isolate in their Residence or in an alternate location approved by the Chief Public Health Officer for at least the following time periods:

• Minimum ten (10) days, from either the start of symptoms or a positive test result, where the person is either Unvaccinated or Partially Vaccinated;
• Minimum of seven (7) days, from either the start of symptoms or a positive test result, where the person is Fully Vaccinated, or Fully Vaccinated with a Booster; or
• Any other time period stipulated by the Chief Public Health Officer or a Medical Health Officer.
• Persons identified by the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer as high-risk contacts and household contacts must isolate for 10 days after the last exposure.

For more complete information, view Nunavut’s mandatory self-isolation order.

Updated February 22, 2022

Both fully vaccinated and non-fully vaccinated people with COVID-19 must isolate for seven full days, and wear a mask whenever possible in all settings for an additional three days, to help stop COVID-19 from spreading to others.

Isolation starts on the date and time of a positive test:

• You are confirmed to have COVID-19 with a positive at-home rapid antigen test, or a positive test from a testing or health centre.

Isolation starts on the date and time of becoming symptomatic:

• If you are symptomatic and not able to be tested you are still considered to have COVID-19.
• If someone with COVID-19 has had a positive test and is symptomatic, isolation starts on the date and time of whichever is later.

Isolation lasts for seven full days only if the following applies to the individual:

• Either no symptoms, or symptom improvement and no fever for at least the last 24 hours.
• Have not been provided any additional direction from a healthcare provider or public health official.

Updated January 6, 2022

Effective Date: January 1, 2022
End Date: N/A
Number of days: 5 days
Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory
Additional details: B.C. workers covered under the Employment Standards Act are eligible for up to 5 employer-paid sick days as of January 1, 2022. Employees are eligible for the leave once they have been with their employer for a minimum of 90 calendar days. This entitlement is in addition to the 3 days of unpaid sick leave provided by the Employment Standards Act. Employees are to be paid regular wages for these days. Part-time, casual, and temporary employees are to be paid by a formula within the legislation.

Updated January 17, 2022

Effective Date: May 7, 2021
Expected End Date: March 31, 2022
Number of days: $600 per full and part-time employee for a maximum of five days.
Mandatory/Voluntary: Voluntary
Additional details: Eligibility includes employees within employers not currently eligible for sick leave (e.g. part-time workers), as well as workers who receive fewer than five days, who could be covered for the difference.

The program supports sick leave related to COVID-19 including testing, vaccinations and side effects, self-isolation due to COVID-19 symptoms, or care for a loved one in any of these circumstances.

More information.

Effective Date: May 26, 2021
Expected End Date: July 31, 2021
Number of days: Up to maximum of $20 per hour or $160 per day. Maximum of $640/worker over a 12-week period.
Mandatory/Voluntary: Voluntary
Additional details: For employees who are not provided paid sick time benefits by their employer, that cannot work remotely and miss less than 50% of their scheduled work time in a one-week period due to COVID-19. Employees who have exhausted their employer-provided paid sick time benefits cannot benefit from this program.

More information.

Nova Scotia
Effective Date: December 20, 2021
Expected End Date: May 7, 2022
Number of days: The COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Program provides up to four paid sick days- calculated based on the employee’s current rate of pay up to a maximum of $20 per hour or $160 per day. Maximum of $640 per employee.
Mandatory/Voluntary: Voluntary
Additional details: For employees who are provided less than four days paid sick time benefits by their employer, that cannot work remotely and miss less than 50% of their scheduled work time in a one-week period due to COVID-19. Employees who have exhausted their employer-provided paid sick time benefits cannot benefit from this program.

More information.

Effective Date: March 1, 2021
Expected End Date: End of Public Health Emergency
Number of days: Up to maximum of $20 per hour or $160 per day.
Mandatory/Voluntary: Voluntary
Additional details:

For employees who are not provided paid sick time benefits by their employer, who do not qualify for federal supports, who cannot work remotely and miss less than 50% of their scheduled work time in a one-week period due to illness, COVID-19 illness, testing, vaccination appointment, and/or needing to self-isolate. Capped at a maximum of 3 days’ wages per week. Employers can access up to 2 one-week periods per employee for a maximum of 6 days per employee. Employees who have exhausted their employer provided paid sick time benefits cannot benefit from this program.

More information.

Effective Date: April 19, 2021
Expected End Date: TBA
Number of hours: 3 hours per vaccine dose
Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory
Additional details: Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to three hours of paid leave to get each dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. No medical note is required, although employers are entitled to ask employees for evidence of their appointment. Employees are eligible only for their own vaccination.

New and part-time employees would be paid in accordance with a formula in the legislation. Employees are also entitled to (job-protected) unpaid leave for the vaccination of a member of the employee’s immediate family or other people described within the Employment Standards Act.

More information.

Effective Date: April 21, 2021
Expected End Date: TBA
Number of hours: 3 hours per vaccine dose
Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory
Additional details: Applies to full-time and part-time employees, with no minimum seniority.
More information.

Effective Date: March 18, 2021
Number of hours: 3 hours per vaccine dose
Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory
Additional details: Employees are entitled to three consecutive hours leave during work hours to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Workers are entitled to more than three consecutive hours if the employer determines the circumstances warrant a longer break from work.

More information.

Effective Date: May 12, 2021
Expected End Date: October 23, 2021
Number of hours: 3 hours per vaccine dose
Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory
Additional details: Applies to full and part time employees. Employer may ask for reasonable verification of the appointment as long as it is not a physician note or medical certificate.

More information.