- You must follow modified self-isolation for the 5 days after the person in your household started having symptoms or, if no symptoms, 5 days after their COVID-19 test.
- Complete a test (PCR or rapid self-test) at least 72 hours after you became aware of a case in your household. Please use rapid tests if you have them on hand instead of booking a PCR test.
- If using rapid self-tests and your first test was negative, complete a second test 48 hours later (day 5). Visit the Rapid Testing for Close Contacts page for further guidance.
- If using PCR, book your COVID-19 test using the online COVID-19 Self-Assessment and Test Reporting Tool. A booking clerk/Public Health Official will be in touch with you to book a date, time and location for your test. Make sure to inform the booking clerk of the timing of your test.
- You can stop modified self-isolation after 5 days has passed and you have your negative test result(s).
- If there are multiple cases in your household, your isolation and testing instructions as a close contact start over again based on the most recent date a household member tested positive/started having symptoms.
- If you become symptomatic, you are considered to have COVID-19 and must follow the guidance for positive cases.
- If you test positive, follow the guidance for positive cases.
During modified isolation, you must:
- Stay at home except to go to school, child care or work.
- Work from home as much as possible.
- Practice physical distancing when at work, child care or school, including while eating or drinking. Try to eat by yourself, if possible.
- Wear a properly fitted, three-layer mask.
- Only do essential activities, such as getting groceries or prescriptions, if there is nobody else
who can do it for you.
For an additional 2 days after leaving modified isolation, wear a mask outside your household and avoid high-risk areas. This includes non-essential visits to hospitals, long-term care homes, large crowded settings, and social gatherings. Workers in these settings can go to work.
If you need help in determining your self-isolation requirements, please call 1-833-951-3859 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. You can also email covid19info@gov.nl.ca with any questions you may have. This email is monitored from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Public health officials may amend guidance based on the situation. If you are called by public health officials, you must adhere to the instructions they provide.