MEDICAL ADVISORY: Changes to Novel Coronavirus (2019 -nCoV) Case Definitions and Home Isolation Requirements

Issued by:  Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC, Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health 

Significant Update to Case Definitions for the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as of February 7, 2020

The most important difference is the travel history has now expanded to include mainland China.

Screening and Testing

Please ensure that patients phoning or visiting your office are screened for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) based on their symptoms, travel history, and close contact with possible cases of 2019-nCoV.  See below:

Testing should be done if a patient has a fever and/or new cough or difficulty breathing AND any of the following:

• Travel to mainland China in the 14 days before onset of illness; OR
• Close contact with a confirmed or probable case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV); OR
• Close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who has been to mainland China within 14 days prior to their illness onset.

If a patient screens positive, please contact Public Health (PH) to report a suspect case and discuss the most appropriate setting for testing.

Lab specimen collection for 2019 n-CoV in the outpatient setting should be done only if appropriate airborne/droplet/contact precautions (including use of a fit-tested N95 respirator) are strictly followed. Refer to the N-95 Respirator Self-Assessment tool on our health care professional webpage.  

Signage

Updated signage has been attached (below). Colour copies are available for order or download on under "Infection Prevention and Control".

Requirements for Home Isolation

Any symptomatic traveller returning from Hubei Province OR mainland China should be sent home with a surgical mask to go into home isolation and be reported to PH for monitoring.

Any asymptomatic traveller returning from Hubei Province in the past 14 days should be sent home with a surgical mask to go into home isolation and be reported to PH for monitoring.

For Further Information:

The Infectious Disease program can be reached at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m., after hours 905-984-3690.  As information is evolving daily, please refer to Infectious Disease Information for Health Professionals.