How to Self-Isolate (for returning travellers with NO SYMPTOMS)

Back to News

You have recently travelled outside of Canada and are required to self-isolate for 14 days after returning.

Follow these instructions to reduce the risk of spreading illness to others:

Travelling home from the airport via taxi/ride share • If you are unable to travel home by private vehicle and have to use taxi/ride share, sit in the back seat and keep the windows open.

Purchasing supplies for your household • Shop online or have a friend or family member pick up supplies for you. Have them leave the supplies outside your door. Do not shop or run errands for 14 days.

Stay home • Do not go to work, school, or public places. • Do not use public transportation, taxis or ride-shares. • Rebook any elective procedures, appointments or blood donations until after the 14 period has ended.

Do not invite visitors into your home • Ensure that any essential service visitors are aware of your travel history, keep at least two meters (6.5 feet) away and keep the visits short. • Keep away from seniors and people with chronic medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, lung problems, weakened immune system).

Avoid contact with others • Stay in a separate room away from other people in your home as much as possible and use a separate bathroom if you have one. • Make sure that shared rooms have good airflow (e.g. open windows).

Keep Distance • If you are in a room with other people, keep a distance of at least two metres (6.5 feet) from others as much as possible and wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. • If you are unable to wear a mask, other people should wear a mask when they are in the same room as you.

Cover your coughs and sneezes • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. • Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hand. • Throw used tissues in a lined wastebasket, and wash your hands. Lining the wastebasket with a plastic bag makes waste disposal easier and safer. • After emptying the wastebasket wash your hands.

Wash your hands • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Dry your hands with a paper towel, or with your own cloth towel that no one else shares. • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if your hands are not visibly dirty. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands.

Clean your home • Clean your home with regular household cleaners. • Clean regularly touched items such as toilets, sink tap handles, doorknobs and bedside tables on a daily basis.

Avoid sharing household items • Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding or other items with others. • After use, these items should be washed with soap or detergent in warm water. No special soap is needed. • Dishwasher and washing machines can be used. • Do not share cigarettes.

Wash laundry thoroughly • There is no need to separate the laundry. • Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub immediately after doing laundry.

Be careful when touching waste • All waste can go into regular garbage bins. • When emptying wastebaskets, take care to not touch used tissues with your hands. Lining the wastebasket with a plastic bag makes disposal easier and safer. • Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub after emptying the wastebasket.

Monitor your symptoms (visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca for fact sheet on self-monitoring or to take the COVID-19 self-assessment test) • If you develop mild symptoms, contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000 or Telehealth at 1- 866-797-0000 after hours. • Know your risk – if you are over 70 years old or have a chronic underlying condition that puts you at greater risk for severe COVID-19, or have more significant symptoms, call your doctor or nurse practitioner and advise them that you have a travel history. • If you need urgent medical attention, contact 911. Advise the dispatcher that you have a travel history.

Travel to/from the hospital or doctor/nurse practitioner’s office: • Do not use public transportation. • Drive yourself if possible. • If driving yourself is not possible, arrange a ride with a friend or family member. Ensure the windows of the car are open, sit in the back seat, and wear a mask (if available/you are able to). • If you are unable to arrange a ride, take a taxi or car service. Ensure the windows of the car are open, sit in the back seat and wear a mask (if available/you are able to). Record the taxi or car service company name and license plate of the car. • If you need urgent medical attention, contact 911.

More information • If you have further questions please contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000 • Ontario Ministry of Health – www.ontario.ca/coronavirus • Public Health Agency of Canada. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) https://www.canada.ca/en/publichealth/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html • Public Health Ontario self-isolation instructions: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19-how-to-selfisolate.pdf?la=en