Medical Isolation: Ending it after a COVID-19 infection

If it has been at least 7 days since your symptoms first appeared, and you have been symptom-free for 48 hours, you can end your medical isolation.

Please follow the instructions listed further down on this page.

• If your symptoms have not improved after isolating for 7 days, it is recommended that you continue to isolate until symptoms clear up. 

If it has been 7 days since you took a test that was positive, and you have been symptom-free for 48 hours, you can end your medical isolation.

Please follow the instructions listed further down on this page.

If you have been hospitalized with Covid-19, or are immunocompromised, it may be recommended that you isolate longer than 7 days.

• Your health care professionals will be able to provide information specific to your situation.

If you have completed the recommended medical isolation period, you’re considered to be recovered.

You can resume regular activities allowed under the current phase and measures in your community.

You won’t normally need another COVID-19 screening test for the next 60 days, even if you travel outside Eeyou Istchee, unless you’re instructed to take a test by a doctor.

• This 60-day period starts from the first day of your infection.

If you do develop symptoms again in the next 60 days, it is recommended that you isolate at home until your symptoms clear up.

Yes. People can continue to test positive for several weeks after an infection. It can vary. 

Why is that so?  After someone has COVID-19, and recovers, they can often still have fragments of dead virus in their nose and throat. These fragments aren't dangerous.

But COVID-19 tests can often detect the fragments for several weeks after an infection.

This is called “viral shedding”. It's not the same as being contagious. 

Fragments of dead virus may show up on a test one day, and not the next.

It can be like this for several weeks after the infection (up to 60 days).

With previous variants (Alpha, Delta, etc.) it was very unusual for someone to be reinfected in the 90 days after an infection.

With the Omicron variant and subvariants now dominating, we know some people who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection can be reinfected as soon as 60 days after they recovered.

Re-infection within the first 60 days after having COVID-19 is extremely uncommon. 

PCR tests done at the clinic, or hospital are more likely to detect virus fragments than a home rapid test.

If a person who recovered from an infection, and who no longer has symptoms takes a test during the 60-day period after their illness, they may test positive due to viral shedding, rather than a real infection.  

If you're travelling or going to a medical appointment, it's important to tell people that you did have COVID-19, and when, so they don't ask you to do a 2nd test. 

If you develop new symptoms in the 60-day period after an infection, you should first see a doctor or a nurse. There is very likely another reason for those symptoms.

You should only do another COVID-19 test if a doctor or nurse who has examined you advises it, even after you tell them you had COVID-19 recently.

You won’t normally need another COVID-19 screening test for the 60 days after an infection, even if you travel outside Eeyou Istchee, unless you’re instructed to take a test by a doctor.

• This 60-day period starts from the first day of your infection.

Why don't you need another test?

• Re-infection in the 60 days following a COVID-19 infection is extremely uncommon.
• There is a much higher chance that, during this time period, you'll test positive even though you're not contagious anymore, and you're not infected.
• This is because of virus shedding, which happens when fragments of the dead virus linger in your nose or throat.
• Virus shedding can be detected by COVID-19 tests. 
• With previous variants (Alpha, Delta, etc.) it was very unusual for someone to be reinfected in the 90 days after an infection.
• With the Omicron variant and subvariants, we know some people who have recovered from a COVID-19 infection can be reinfected as soon as 60 days after they recovered.

If you take a test during this 60-day time period after your infection, and you get a positive result (but you aren't positive) it could affect your plans:

• If you're travelling by plane for a medical appointment or if you're being screened before going to a hospital appointment it may be cancelled; 
• If you're screened at your workplace or site it may affect your ability to go to work.

It's important to tell people you had COVID-19, and when you had it, so they don't ask you to do a second test during the 60-day period after you recover from an infection. 

If you do develop new symptoms again in these 60 days, you should first see a doctor or a nurse. There is likely another reason for your symptoms.

You should only do another COVID-19 test if a doctor or nurse who has examined you advises it, even after you tell them you had COVID-19 recently.

Vaccination is still recommended for almost everyone who has had COVID-19.

You can get a 1st, 2nd or booster dose once your isolation is over. A booster dose extends the protection of earlier doses.

If you need a 1st or 2nd dose:

• The recommended wait is 8 weeks after a COVID-19 infection that was confirmed by a positive test, or earlier, depending on your situation.
• If you want to get vaccinated earlier than that, please call your clinic.

If you are eligible for a booster dose (12 years and older):

• The recommended wait is 3 months after a COVID-19 infection that was confirmed by a positive test.
• If you want to get a booster before that, please call your clinic. 

People who are immunocompromised or on dialysis: 

• If you need a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd dose to complete the primary vaccine series, the recommended wait is 4 weeks after a COVID-19 infection that was confirmed by a positive test. 
• If you are eligible for a booster dose: The recommended wait time is 3 months after a COVID-19 infection confirmed by a positive test. 

People in your home who isolated with you during your infection will need to isolate longer, even if they tested negative and have no symptoms.

They have to isolate for 7 more days after your recovery.

This is because they could have caught the infection from you, but haven’t started to be infectious themselves. 

If anyone in your home developed symptoms during your isolation period:

• They are assumed to be positive, and must start 7 days of isolation from the moment they develop symptoms.  If possible, they should also get tested.

Please see “I had contact with a positive case”: https://creehealth.org/health-tips/understanding-your-covid-19-test-result.

If you want to request a letter of Proof of Recovery, or of a negative COVID-19 test result, there are two options:

1. Call the Info-Line at 1-866-855-2811 during regular hours (Monday – Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM)
2. Or, email your request to: 18tcr.covid.infoline@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

• Please mention which letter of proof you need: Proof of Recovery or of a Negative Result.
• Please provide your full name, date of birth, and the email address where you would like to receive the letter of proof.