COVID-19 - Niagara is under a provincewide stay-at-home order. Learn about the COVID-19 vaccination and service disruptions.

Screening for Symptoms of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Symptoms

If you or your child has one or more of the following new or worsening symptoms, self-isolate at home immediately.

  • Fever / chills
  • Cough
  • Runny nose or stuff / congestion, not related to allergies
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Decrease or loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Fatigue, extreme tiredness or muscle aches

Once in self-isolation, you can either:

If the symptomatic individual doesn't seek COVID-19 testing, they must self-isolate for 10 days. All household contacts must self-isolate for 14 days from their last contact with the symptomatic individual.

If you have remaining questions about COVID-19, contact our COVID-19 Info-Line at 905-688-8248, press 7.

Other symptoms

Other non-specific symptoms are:

  • Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
  • Rash
  • Severe chest pain
  • For young children / infants, sluggishness or lack of appetite
  • For older adults, loss of balance / falls

Children, siblings and other household members with COVID-19 symptoms

If a test is recommended by a health care provider for the child that has symptoms, or a decision is made to pursue testing at an assessment centre, all household members are to self-isolate until the test results are back.

  • If the test is negative, household members can leave self-isolation
  • If the test is positive, household members must stay in self-isolation and will receive further direction from Public Health

Frequently asked questions about school and child care

  • If one of my children needs to be tested for COVID-19, do other members of my household need to self-isolate?

    Yes. If a decision is made for testing, all siblings and family members who live with the child are to remain home and self-isolate until a negative result is received. If a negative result is received, siblings and family members can return to school / work.

  • My child was assessed by a health care provider and COVID-19 has been ruled out, OR my child has tested negative for COVID-19. When can they return to school / child care?

    Your child can return to school / child care 24 hours after the following four symptoms are resolved:

    • Fever (without use of fever reducing medication)
    • Shortness of breath
    • Sore throat
    • Headache

    Any other symptoms must also be improving.

    Ten days after symptoms start, children can return to school / child care as long as they don't have a fever (without use of fever reducing medication) and they are feeling better.

    If a health care provider has told you that the symptoms are related to a chronic or pre-existing condition, such as allergies, runny nose, migraines, asthma, your child can return to school / child care once they feel well enough, without waiting for symptoms to resolve.

    A note from your health care provider isn't required for your child to return to school / child care. Parent / guardian confirmation is sufficient.

  • What if I choose to not have my child assessed by a health care provider and not tested for COVID-19?

    If your child is not assessed by a health care provider, and testing for COVID-19 was declined for any reason, we must assume the child has COVID-19. The child is to self-isolate for 10 days (away from household members, when possible) AND all household contacts are to stay home and self-isolate for 14 days.

    Ten days after symptoms start, children can return to school / child care as long as they don't have a fever (without use of fever reducing medication) and they are feeling better.

    If self-isolation away from household members isn't possible, household members are to remain in self-isolation for 14 days from the last exposure to the symptomatic child. If household members become symptomatic, they should consult their health care provider and / or go for testing.

  • What do I do if my child tests positive for COVID-19?

    Niagara Region Public Health will provide further direction and support to confirmed positive COVID-19 cases and their close contacts. We will contact you. Isolate immediately.

    Positive infected children are to self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days after their symptoms started. Household contacts also need to self-isolate and will be provided further direction by Public Health.

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