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Ontario is dropping its five-day isolation period for people with COVID-19, according to the provincial government, as part of its new approach ahead of a "respiratory virus season."
"If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or runny nose, stay home from school, work and social events until your fever is gone and symptoms are improving, get a rapid antigen test or, if eligible, a PCR test," read a media release from the province.
"Wear a mask for 10 days after and avoid non-essential visits to high-risk individuals and settings."
Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, expounded on these new guidelines on a press conference and underscored that people can only come out of isolation 24 hours after their condition has improved, CBC reported.
For people who live in the same household with a COVID-positive individual, Moore said they need to wear a mask in public spaces and avoid vulnerable individuals regardless of their condition. If they develop symptoms, they need to isolate immediately.
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During the press conference, Moore was asked by reporters if this meant that COVID-positive people could go to school or the workplace.
"That is correct," he confirmed. "With the additional precautions and we'll have the improvement in ventilation, in the school environment in particular, we'll have the improvement in environmental cleaning, the improvement in hand hygiene in all classrooms, with the addition of wearing a mask continually for 10 full days, and this approach should decrease the risk of all respiratory viruses."
According to Moore, these steps are the government's way of being "practical and pragmatic" in its approach.
"We're trying to be practical and pragmatic in our approach and these recommendations may change if we see more impact of respiratory viruses on the health of Ontarians and our communities," he said.
Moore added that the change in its isolation mandate is part of its approach ahead of the start of the respiratory virus season.
"Normally, we'll see the respiratory virus season start around the end of September and hence this advice is being put in play to guide that risk," said Moore as quoted by CP24.
"So, this is an all-respiratory virus approach because the complexity will be increasing this year, given that other respiratory viruses will be circulating in our schools and workplaces."
Meanwhile, Moore urged Ontarians to take the vaccine and booster doses that are available to them.
"Ontarians are also encouraged to protect one another by respecting public health guidance, including staying home and taking precautions if you are sick," he said.