COVID-19 Information for employers and employees

The Government of Ontario has created a self-assessment tool for screening questions: 

• Click here Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) if you wish to continue active screening. 

Businesses and workplaces have a responsibility to provide a safe work environment for employees and volunteers. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect your workplace from the risks of COVID-19. Click here for more information on COVID-19 Workplace Immunization Policies.

Employees who have COVID-19 symptoms, feel sick or are unwell should: 

• Stay home when sick until
  • Their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea), and 
  • They do not have a fever, and 
  • They do not develop any additional symptoms 
• Notify their workplace and let them know they are self-isolating due to COVID-19 symptoms. 

  Employees may complete the Ontario Self-Assessment for further direction. 

• For 10 days following the last exposure: 

• • Self-monitor for symptoms. Stay home (self-isolate) immediately if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19 and seek testing if eligible 
  • wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including school and child care) 
  • avoid non-essential activities where you need to take off your mask (for example, dining out) 
  • avoid visiting anyone who is immunocompromised or may be at higher risk of illness (for example, seniors) 
  • avoid non-essential visits to highest risk settings such as hospitals and long-term care homes 

A close contact is: 

• Anyone who has had a high-risk exposure with the COVID-19 positive person (or symptomatic person) 

• • within the 48 hours prior to symptom onset if symptomatic or 48 hours prior to the test date if asymptomatic, and until the positive person started self-isolating; AND 
  • Was less than 2 meters/6 feet from the person who tested positive for COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes for multiple short interactions without measures such as, distancing and/ or use of personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the nature of contact. 

Some examples of high-risk situations in the workplace include:

• Physical contact such as shaking someone’s hand, being sneezed or coughed on 
• Working in the same office space 
• Sharing lunch or break rooms 
• Providing care to someone 

• Asymptomatic with positive COVID-19 test do not need to isolate 
• Encourage staff to self-screen before coming to work and stay home upon developing any symptom of COVID-19 

Decrease the risk of contact: 

• Follow all public health guidelines including; get vaccinated, using masks, maintaining physical distance 
• Encourage employees to clean their hands frequently and when needed 
• Increase fresh air through ventilation systems, opening windows and using outdoor spaces where possible 
• Increase cleaning and disinfection 
• Provide access to hand sanitizer, soap, and water 

Post signage to remind employers of: 

• Physical distancing  
• Screening and self-assessment 
• Wearing masks 
• Staying safe during breaks 
• Hand hygiene 
• Know when and how to report to the Ministry of Labor, Training, and Skills Development (MLTSD) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) 

Workers do not need a negative COVID-19 test to return to the workplace after completing the full self-isolation period.

Case and Contact Management

Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario August 31, 2022 (Version 15) 

Workplace Resources

COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan

COVID-19 Safety Checklist for Workplaces

Resources for Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace

COVID-19 Vaccination Information