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 or other respiratory illnesses.

Isolation is no longer legally required in Alberta.

Those with respiratory virus symptoms or who test positive for any respiratory illness are advised to stay home until all symptoms have improved, they feel well enough to resume normal activities, and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications. 

Anyone who has respiratory virus symptoms are recommended to wear a mask for a total of 10 days from the onset of symptoms (even if the symptoms have resolved or improved) when in indoor settings with other individuals.

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.

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:

• Stay away from others, in a separate room with access to your own bathroom.
  • 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)
• Do not share household items like dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, blankets, and pillows.
• Everyone in the house should wash hands often with soap and water thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
• Remind household members not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• 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.
• 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
• Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs light switches, and counters.
• Maximize ventilation and airflow in the living spaces. Even opening a window for a few minutes every hour can help improve ventilation.
• Watch everyone for symptoms of COVID-19. Call Health Link at 811 if you have questions about your (or your family member's) health.

Find more information on How to Care for a COVID-19 Patient at Home.

Check with the site you are visiting for entry requirements and precautions.

For more information on entry requirements, see ahs.ca/visitation.

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.

For specific instructions learn more below:

• Get tested using an at-home rapid test. If you don't have access to one, your child should stay home and away from other people until their symptoms get better.

• COVID-19 Self-Care Guide
• Isolation & Quarantine Requirements
• Rapid Testing at Home
• COVID-19 Public Health Actions
• COVID-19: Education & Child Care
• Coping at Home for Families