My family and I were told to quarantine for 14 days, but I tested negative, can’t I go back to work?
While the investigation is ongoing you are required to remain under quarantine. Quarantine may be up to 14 days (the incubation period for COVID-19) or longer. You will be advised by a public health officer of when you may be released from quarantine, return to work, etc.
My husband/wife was not in contact with my child after we received the letter. Does he/she have to quarantine or can they keep away from the family and continue their activities
Anyone who has been in contact with the child as of the date of the letter should quarantine. If there has been no contact with the child and there continues to be no contact with the child then there is no need for the family member to quarantine. Physical distancing, mask wearing and other public health measures should continue to be adhered to outside of the home.
When does our quarantine end?
The first day of exposure to or contact with the child is day 0 and the next day is day 1. You must quarantine until day 14 or until released from quarantine by a public health officer.
Do I need to get tested on day 4, 8 and 14?
No, those testing days are part of the traveler testing protocol. Please follow the testing recommendations for outbreaks from the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit regarding testing and quarantine. If you are quarantined, the usual recommendation is to test at the beginning and end of the quarantine period.
I heard one school only had to quarantine until the test results came back!! Why is that ok for them and not us?
Each case is different and assessed on risk. Whether a close contact of a COVID-19 case is symptomatic or asymptomatic makes a difference and will result in different actions being taken. Relief of the quarantine period will be allowed as the investigation progresses and further information can be attained. Quarantine is not punishment, but is meant to give Public Health time to fully understand what happened and prevent any further outbreaks while protecting the community at large.
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