Tag: isolation

What the CDC's New Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Means for Employers Despite all the mandatory vaccination policies, masks, and social distancing guidelines which employers have introduced, we all still have employees that test positive or are exposed to COVID-19. This still means that employers need to know how to deal with these issues. Fortunately, the CDC has recently made it a little easier by providing shortened quarantine and isolation periods for workers. So here is what to do according to CDC guidelines when your employee tests positive for or is exposed to COVID-19. When an Employee Tests Positive When your employee tests positive for COVID-19, the guidance provides for a five-day isolation period. This is true no matter whether the employee has been vaccinated or boosted. This seems simple enough, but when does the five-day period start? The time you begin counting the five-day period depends on if and when the employee has symptoms. If an employee is asymptomatic, then the five-day period will begin the day after the specimen for the positive test was collected, and day zero will be the date of the positive test itself. After a full five days, the employee may return to work and follow subsequent safety guidelines, including a full five days of masking. For employees that do develop symptoms, day zero will be marked by the first day in which symptoms develop. The first day of the five-day period will be the day following the onset of symptoms. The employee can return to work after the five days if they have gone fever-free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and all other symptoms have improved as well. Keep in mind that a loss of taste and smell is the exception to this, as these symptoms could last for several months after recovery. After this, the asymptomatic employee should also wear a mask for the following five days. For either symptomatic or asymptomatic employees who cannot or will not wear a mask for the subsequent five-day period after their isolation, they should continue to isolate until the full ten-day period has finished. When an Employee Is Exposed For exposure, the response will depend upon the vaccination status of the employee. If the employee has received a booster or has been vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna within the last six months or J&J within the last two, then the employee should simply wear a mask for the following ten days. The CDC also recommends testing on the fifth day. If the employee is unvaccinated or has not been recently vaccinated, the CDC recommends five days of isolation, encouraging the employee to be tested on the fifth day and an additional five days of masking if no symptoms develop. Make sure your company policies are compliant with State law by reading up on fair chance hiring practices. Learn more by downloading our free resource on Adverse Action Notice Protocols in Compliance With FCRA. STAY COMPLIANT WITH YOUR BACKGROUND CHECKS

Tag: isolation

What the CDC’s New Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Means for Employers

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