Self-isolation means staying at home (or other similar place where you will not come into contact with others) for up to 14 days in order to avoid spreading the virus to others. 

You may be asked to self-isolate by your local public health team if you:

• Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (or have been tested, and are awaiting results)
• Have COVID-like symptoms, even mild ones  
• Have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 
• Have travelled internationally, or into a province/territory in Canada that has requirements around self-isolation 

If you have potentially been exposed to the virus, you will need to self-isolate because it is possible to have (and spread) the virus before you show obvious symptoms. There is also a subset of individuals who contract COVID-19 but do not show symptoms.

For more information, see the BC Centre for Disease Control’s page on Self-Isolation or Healthlink BC’s Self-Isolation and COVID-19 page.

Check out our post on The Do’s & Don’ts of Self-Isolation