FAQ's for Workplaces and Employers

Do I need to report to Public Health if I have 2 or more workers that have tested positive?

• Hospitals (including complex continuing care facilities and paramedic services)
• Congregate living settings (Long-Term Care, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges, group homes, shelters, hospices, and correctional institutions)

Businesses that are not considered any of the above settings are not required to report to Public Health at this time.

I have a worker that just tested positive on a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). What are my next steps?

• Send the case home
  • Case should isolate based on vaccination status (5 days for fully vaccinated and 10 days for unvaccinated/partially vaccinated)
  • The case must report 24 hours symptoms improving, or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms, and be fever free before ending isolation
  • Other workers that are considered household members of the case may need to be sent home as well.
    • Household members who do not have their booster dose or who are under 18 and not fully vaccinated must self-isolate for the same length of time as the case.
    • Household members of the worker who do not have symptoms and have their booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or are fully vaccinated and under 18 years of age they are not required to self-isolate and can continue working while wearing a well-fitted mask. Learn more.
• Case should inform those that were in close contact with them within 48 hours prior to their symptoms starting or positive test result, whichever came first.
  • Any workers that were exposed that are asymptomatic should self-monitor for 10 days from last known exposure and wear a well-fitted mask in public settings. 
  • Any workers that were exposed that are symptomatic should self-isolate based on vaccination status (5 days for fully vaccinated and 10 days for unvaccinated/partially vaccinated).
• Case can go back to work if they have completed their isolation period and their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours and are fever free (gastrointestinal symptoms for 48 hours). There is no need to re-test to leave isolation.
  • For a total of 10 days after symptom onset or positive test result (whichever was earliest), cases must wear a well-fitted mask as much as possible in public settings (with reasonable exceptions for eating lunch physically distanced from other employees) and avoid activities that require removal of a mask (i.e. dining out).
  • If household members of the case start having symptoms or test positive within 90 days, there is no need for the case to re-isolate. The case can work and self-monitor for 10 days.

I have an employee who is unvaccinated and is returning to work following their isolation, when can I restart our rapid antigen screening process after their return?

I am not comfortable with my employee returning to work after isolating for only 5 days after a positive result, can I require them to complete a 10-day isolation?

I have tested positive on a RAT and am currently isolating. Am I required to do another Rapid Antigen Test to leave isolation?

I have tested positive on a RAT and am currently isolating. Can I receive a letter from Public Health that says that I am eligible to go back to work?

I have completed my isolation following a positive RAT, my workplace is requesting a negative test prior to returning to work. What happens if that test is positive?