HCWs with Symptoms or Exposure to an Infectious Disease

The direction below is for SAH HCWs only (specifically SAH employees, physicians, security staff, Ellis Don staff, Marek’s staff, and volunteers) in order to aid in their decision making regarding when to report to work.  Students will follow similar protocols which will be managed by their educational institution.  Students are not followed by Occupational Health. Students can self-screen using Student & Volunteer Self-Screening.

As of March 27, 2023, PCR testing is no longer routinely required for return to work.  Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are acceptable as long as the protocols outlined below are followed.  See UPDATED PROTOCOL for additional details. 

 

Direction for HCWs with symptoms of Respiratory Illness (e.g. COVID-19, cold-like illness, influenza-like illness)

Symptoms include one or more of the following: Fever, cough, chills, shortness of breath, olfactory/taste disorder (change in taste or smell), sore throat

OR

Two or more of the following: Runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, gastro symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain), fatigue/lethargy (unexplained/long lasting), body aches, muscle aches, joint pain, conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)

  • Ensure you have reported your symptoms to Occupational Health at x4317 or healthnurse@sah.on.ca
  • You can return to work when:
    1. You have had a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) two days in a row once symptoms are improving; AND
    2. Your respiratory symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours; AND
    3. You have not had a fever within the past 24 hours; AND
    4. Any gastro symptoms have ended at least 48 hours ago; AND
    5. You feel well enough to return to work; AND
    6. You continue to wear your mask (even in staff-only areas) until your symptoms have resolved or 10 days after your symptoms first started, whichever is earlier. 
    7.  

Directions for HCWs who have tested positive for COVID-19 (either a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test) within the last 10 days:

  • Report your absence to Workforce Planning x1465
  • Report your positive test result to Occupational Health at x4317 or healthnurse@sah.on.ca. Occupational Health will follow up with you during office hours (weekdays 0700-1500h; closed weekends and statutory holidays).
  • If your illness occurs on a weekend/holiday, and you are uncertain when you can return to work, you can follow this direction:

You can return to work when

  1. You have had a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) two days in a row**; AND
  2. Your respiratory symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours; AND
  3. You have not had a fever within the past 24 hours; AND
  4. Any vomiting or diarrhea ended at least 48 hours ago; AND
  5. You feel well enough to return to work; AND
  6. You continue to wear your mask (even in staff-only areas) until your symptoms have resolved or 10 days after your symptoms first started, whichever is earlier. 

**NOTE: You can return to work 10 days after your symptoms first started, even if your RATs are still positive as long as your symptoms have improved and you feel well enough to work. You must continue to report your absence to Workforce Planning x1465 until you are able to return to work.

  • Report your absence to Workforce Planning x1465 and Occupational Health (x4317 or healthnurse@sah.on.ca)
  • You can return to work once you feel well enough as long as you continue to wear your mask (even in staff-only areas) until your symptoms have resolved or 10 days after your symptoms first started, whichever is earlier.

Directions for asymptomatic HCWs with exposure to COVID-19 within the last 10 days:

  • Come to work if you are asymptomatic; AND
  • Practice work self-isolation for 10 days from the last known exposure
  • Come to work if you are asymptomatic; AND
  • Complete Rapid Antigen Testing daily prior to shifts for 10 days from the last shift worked in the outbreak area (not indicated if you have previously tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days); AND
  • Practice work self-isolation for 10 days from the last shift worked in the outbreak area

Directions for HCWs with another communicable disease (for example, gastrointestinal illness, conjunctivitis, shingles, strep throat):

  • If you do not have any other symptoms, then you can return to work once:
    1. Your vomiting has resolved at least 24 hours ago; AND
    2. Your diarrhea has resolved at least 48 hours ago.
  • If you do not have any other symptoms, you can return to work when your symptoms have resolved
  • You can return to work immediately as long as:
    1. You have NOT been diagnosed with disseminated zoster, AND
    2. You practice good hand hygiene; AND
    3. Your lesions are covered or in an area that will not be in contact with a patient (e.g. your face); UNLESS
      1. You work in one of the following areas:
        • Maternity, Pediatrics, NICU, Renal, or ADCP
      2. In which case, you can return to work when:
        • All of your lesions have dried and crusted over
  • You must have a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) two days in a row once symptoms are improving; AND
  • Report your symptoms to Occupational Health at x4317 or healthnurse@sah.on.ca; AND
  • You can return to work 24 hours after the start of effective antibiotic therapy as long as your symptoms are improving and your COVID-19 RATs are both negative; AND
  • You must continue to wear your mask (even in staff-only areas) until your symptoms have resolved or 10 days after your symptoms first started, whichever is earlier.
  • You must have a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) two days in a row once symptoms are improving; AND
  • Report your symptoms to Occupational Health at x4317 or healthnurse@sah.on.ca; AND
  • You must remain off work for a full 5 days, returning on the 6th day after your symptoms first started as long as you are feeling well enough to work and your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours and you do not have a fever; AND
  • You must continue to wear your mask (even in staff-only areas) until your symptoms have resolved or 10 days after your symptoms first started, whichever is earlier
  • Do not attend work; AND
  • Report your diagnosis to Occupational Health at x4317 or healthnurse@sah.on.ca; AND
  • Await direction from Occupational Health regarding return to work. Continue to report your absence to Workforce Planning until you receive further direction from Occupational Health.

The initial symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease can present similar to COVID-19, therefore:

  • You must have a negative COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) two days in a row once symptoms are improving; AND
  • Report your symptoms to Occupational Health at x4317 or healthnurse@sah.on.ca; AND
  • You can return to work after you do not have a fever and all symptoms are improving for at least 24h and any blisters have healed (e.g. are no longer filled with fluid) and your COVID-19 RATs are both negative;  AND
  • You must continue to wear your mask (even in staff-only areas) until your symptoms have resolved or 10 days after your symptoms first started, whichever is earlier.