Self-isolation means staying home and avoiding situations where you are in contact with others. It is an important measure in stopping the spread of illness. There are a number of reasons why you should or may be required to self-isolate. For more information about self-isolation:
- BC Centre for Disease Control: Self-Isolation.
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Public Health Agency of Canada: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Prevention and risks
If you have symptoms of COVID-19
Symptoms may vary from person to person. Some people may experience mild symptoms, while others have more severe symptoms. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, self- isolate immediately, avoid contact with others and get tested for COVID-19. Testing is available for anyone with COVID-19 like symptoms, even mild ones. Those who get diagnosed with COVID-19 will need to self-isolate for at least 10 days from when their symptoms started.
Learn more about self-isolation when you have COVID-19 or any symptoms of COVID-19:
- BC Centre for Disease Control: If You Have COVID-19
- BC Centre for Disease Control: Self-Isolation
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): How to isolate at home when you have COVID-19
If you are a contact of someone with COVID-19
If you have been exposed to the virus, you will be contacted by your regional health authority's public health team through a process called contact tracing. This means you are a contact of a confirmed case. If you do not have symptoms, you will be asked to self-isolate so that if you develop COVID-19, you won’t spread it to others in the community.
Visit the BC Centre for Disease Control page for more information about contact tracing and close contacts
While in self-isolation you should also be self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19.
Learn more about caring for someone in your household with COVID-19, and self-isolating and self-monitoring if you are a close contact of someone in your household who may have been exposed:
- BC Centre for Disease Control: Guide for caregivers and household members of those with COVID-19 (‘close contacts’)
- BC Centre for Disease Control: Self-Isolation > How to
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Be prepared (COVID-19)
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): How to self-isolate at home when you may have been exposed and have no symptoms
If you have travelled internationally
Avoiding non-essential travel helps reduce the spread of COVID-19. If you have traveled outside of Canada, you are required by law to follow testing requirements and must self-isolate for 14 days upon your return to Canada. For the most-up-to-date information on returning to Canada travel requirements, see Government of Canada: COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders.
While in self-isolation you should also be self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19.
Learn more about self-isolation and self-monitoring on return to British Columbia:
- Government of BC: Self-quarantine on return to B.C.
- Government of Canada: Mandatory quarantine or isolation
- BC Centre for Disease Control: Self-Isolation > How to
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): How to self-isolate at home when you may have been exposed and have no symptoms
For more information about returning from travel and travel restrictions in Canada, see Travel and COVID-19.
Ending self-isolation
There are many factors that determine when you need to start self-isolating, and for how long. It is important that you self-isolate for the proper amount of time. For more details on what is needed for your situation, see BC Centre for Disease Control: Self-Isolation.
Last updated: March 21, 2021
