Per CDC guidelines, employers should take the following steps if an employee has reported testing positive or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Take action if an employee is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 infection. In most cases, you do not need to shut down your facility.
- Follow the CDC cleaning and disinfection recommendations.
- If it has been less than 7 days since the sick employee has been in the facility, close off any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person:
- Wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize potential for other employees being exposed to respiratory droplets. If waiting 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
- During this waiting period, open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in these areas.
- If it has been 7 days or more since the sick employee used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary. Continue routinely cleaning and disinfecting all high-touch surfaces in the facility.
- If it has been less than 7 days since the sick employee has been in the facility, close off any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person:
- Determine which employees may have been exposed to the virus and may need to take additional precautions.
- Employees with symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) at work should immediately be sent to their home.
- Advise sick staff members not to return until they have met CDC’s criteria to discontinue home isolation.
- Inform employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Inform those who have had close contact to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms, and to follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
- If a person does not have symptoms, follow appropriate CDC guidance for home isolation.
- Notify local health officials, staff, and customers (if possible) immediately of any possible case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and state privacy laws.