Here you will find information about health-care workers returning to work after COVID-19 illness or following a close contact exposure.
Last update: June 28, 2022
This guidance is intended for health-care workers (HCWs), workplace health and safety, public health staff and medical health officers to support decision-making on return to work for HCWs with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and recommendations for HCWs who have had close contact exposures. This includes HCWs:
- with a positive COVID-19 test result, for example, rapid antigen test (RAT) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 who tested negative or who were not tested.
- who travelled outside of Canada.
- who had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.
The guidance includes information on criteria for return to work in recognition of HCWs’ COVID-19 immunization status and precautions to follow upon returns to work.
The recommendations apply to all health-care facilities, programs and services, including acute care, long-term care and seniors’ assisted living, community physician and primary care provider offices, outpatient clinics, as well as settings where health-care services are provided.
Read the guidance