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As coronavirus infection rates continue to climb, it\u2019s imperative that organizations respond quickly when an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19. Here are the steps employers should take:<\/p>\n
Employees should be notified of potential exposure in the workplace, but they should not<\/em> be told who is sick. Employees won\u2019t like that they can\u2019t gauge their own risk, but the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires this type of information to remain confidential. Don\u2019t worry if employees figure it out on their own, but make sure you\u2019re not the one to reveal the information (and don\u2019t drop sneaky hints to help them along).<\/p>\n If there was close contact for a prolonged period (about six feet or less for 15 minutes or more over the course of 24 hours), exposed employees should quarantine. If you aren\u2019t confident in your risk assessment, call your local or state health authority to help you determine which employees should quarantine.<\/p>\n The CDC recommends the following practices (among others):<\/p>\n If\u202fit has been seven days\u202for more since the person who is sick was in the workplace, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary.<\/p>\n For more detailed instructions on cleaning and disinfecting the workplace after someone is diagnosed, and lots of great general guidance, see the CDC\u2019s Guidance for Business and Employers<\/a>. Calling your local or state health authority is recommended as well.<\/p>\n Sick employees should work with their healthcare provider to determine when to return to the workplace.\u202fGenerally, an employee will be okay to return when at least 24 hours have passed\u202fsince the resolution of fever without the use of medication, and <\/em>other symptoms have improved, and <\/em>at least 10 days have passed\u202fsince symptoms first appeared or since the positive test result, if the employee is asymptomatic.<\/p>\n2. Assess the Risk of Exposure and Quarantine if Advisable<\/h2>\n
3. Disinfect Areas Used by the Sick Employee<\/h2>\n
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4. Determine When an Employee Can Return to Work<\/h2>\n