Isolation & Quarantine Information
Discover the importance of isolation and quarantine in combating COVID-19. Learn the differences between these practices and their significance in curbing the virus's spread. Dive into guidelines and tips for effectively implementing isolation and quarantine measures to safeguard our communities.
What is Isolation?
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Isolation is when you stay away from or keep yourself apart from others. When you have less contact with others, even those you live with, you can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you're sick.
Isolation is no longer legally required in Alberta. However, people with symptoms of COVID-19 and people who test positive for COVID-19 are recommended to isolate.
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Who is Recommended to Isolate?
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If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should stay home and away from others until your symptoms have improved, you feel well enough to resume normal activities, and have been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.​
If you test positive for COVID-19 on a molecular (e.g. PCR, rapid point-of-care) test or if you have symptoms and test positive on at-home rapid test, you should follow isolation recommendations.​
If you don’t have a test, test negative but still have symptoms, or choose not to test yourself, you should stay home until you feel well enough to resume normal activities and you have been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. This is because your symptoms could be caused by a different virus that can be spread to other people.
Your physician may recommend that you isolate longer if you are immunocompromised.​​
​International Travellers
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If you've returned from travel outside of Canada you are legally required to follow all federal quarantine requirements.
It is highly recommended that anyone with COVID-19 isolate away from their household members when possible. This helps to prevent ongoing exposure to the virus.
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Most people recover from COVID-19 without special treatment and can manage mild symptoms at home. Go to COVID-19 Self-Care Guide for more information.
Tips to Isolate at Home
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Stay away from others, in a separate room with access to your own bathroom.
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If you can't have your own bathroom, put the toilet lid down before flushing. Clean and disinfect bathroom (all surfaces, light switches, and taps)
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Do not share household items like dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, blankets, and pillows.
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Everyone in the house should wash hands often with soap and water thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.
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Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty.
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Remind household members not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in the garbage and wash hands right away with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
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If a breastfeeding parent or their child has COVID-19, breastfeeding may continue. The breastfeeding parent should wear a mask when near the baby, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze, and clean your hands before and after close contact with the baby
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Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs light switches, and counters.
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Maximize ventilation and airflow in the living spaces. Even opening a window for a few minutes every hour can help improve ventilation.
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Watch everyone for symptoms of COVID-19. Call Health Link at 811 if you have questions about your (or your family member's) health.
Supporting Patients & Residents
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Check with the site you are visiting for entry requirements and precautions.
For more information on entry requirements, see ahs.ca/visitation.
Children & Families
Children need love, care, and attention from caregivers every day. If your child develops symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19, we recommend you choose 1 healthy family member to be their caregiver to help lower the spread of the virus to others in the household. You're the best judge of how to care for your child and may decide that it's not possible to have only 1 adult be with your child for such a long period of time.