Businesses
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Public Health is contacting all lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and asking for them to notify their employers. When a person tests positive for COVID-19, they will be asked to follow Public Health Guidance for Home Isolation. Employees should not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue home isolation. See Section 7 of the Business Guidance for more detailed information.
Employers should confidentially inform any other employees of their exposure to the sick person, if they meet the criteria for being a close contact. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. *Individual exposures added together over a 24-hour period (e.g., three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes). The identity of the sick employee should remain confidential to protect their privacy as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees who were in close contact of the sick individual should be provided this guidance.
Public Health does not recommend businesses close down if an employee tests positive. If someone gets sick at work, the business should follow guidelines for helping to safely separate that sick employee from others and implement cleaning procedures. See Section 7 of the Business Guidance for more information.
If an employee reports an exposure to someone who is sick with COVID-19 or who is being tested for it, the employee should follow the MCDPH Quarantine Guidance for Household and Close Contacts. The employee should consult with their healthcare provider to determine if they should be tested for COVID-19.
See Section 7 of the Business Guidance for more detailed information.
If an employee develops any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 that aren’t caused by pre-existing allergies or chronic disease such as asthma, the employee should:
- Cease work activities, put on a face mask, and avoid others as much as possible.
- Notify their supervisor or occupational health services, then go home.
- Consult with their healthcare provider about their illness and PCR or antigen (swab) testing for COVID-19.
- Follow the MCDPH Home Isolation Guidelines. Employees should not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue home isolation.
See Section 7 of the Business Guidance for more detailed information.
Any employee with symptoms of COVID-19 or who tested positive for the disease should follow the MCDPH Home Isolation Guidelines. Employees should not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue home isolation.
Employees who have completed home isolation should NOT be required to provide a doctor’s note or negative COVID-19 test to document their recovery or be permitted to return to work.
See Section 7 of the Business Guidance for more detailed information.
Yes. Public Health advises those who test positive for COVID-19 to inform their employer.
Employers should confidentially inform any other employees of their exposure to the sick person, if they meet the criteria for being a close contact. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. *Individual exposures added together over a 24-hour period (e.g., three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes). The identify of the sick employee should remain confidential to protect their privacy as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees who were in close contact of the sick individual should be provided this guidance.
If an employee becomes ill at work, they should report to their supervisor and go home. If they are unable to go home immediately, place them in a private room away from others until they are able to return home. Ask them to wear a face mask, if available. The employer should follow CDC cleaning and disinfection procedures. If the employee seeks testing for COVID-19 and suspects they may have it, the employer should inform employees identified as close contacts of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality of the infected employee as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employers can share this information with exposed employees on how to watch for signs of illness. A close contact exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. *Individual exposures added together over a 24-hour period (e.g., three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes).
If an employee reports an exposure to someone who is sick with COVID-19 or who is being tested for it, the employee should follow the MCDPH Quarantine Guidance for Household and Close Contacts. The employee should consult with their healthcare provider to determine if they should be tested for COVID-19.
See Section 7 of the Business Guidance for more detailed information.
Public Health has created a comprehensive Guidance for Businesses to help them Plan, Prepare and Respond to COVID-19.
Prepare and Respond to COVID-19 as an Employer
Local Resources:
- Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) COVID-19 Guidance for Business (PDF - Rev. 12/07/2020)
- Quarantine guidance and flow chart for household and close contacts of a person with COVID-19:
English | Spanish (PDF - Rev. 12/02/20) - Home isolation guidance and flow chart for people who test positive or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19:
English | Spanish (PDF - Rev. 11/06/20) - Employee Exposure Letter Template (Word - Rev. 10/26/2020)
- Sign Detailing COVID-19 Symptoms for Workplaces: English | Spanish (PDF)
- Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Guidance and Resources for Workplace and Community Locations
- Arizona Together’s COVID-19 Business Resources
- Arizona @ Work Resources for Employers and Businesses
Federal Resources:
- CDC General Business Guidance
- OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
- CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19
- Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 (CDC)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- National Alliance on Mental Illness COVID-19 Information and Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline
Public Health has partnered with 2-1-1 so employers and business owners can get answers about their role in preventing and slowing the spread of COVID-19. If you’re an employer or business owner, you can call 2-1-1 and follow the prompts to get to the business line and speak to a representative. It’s open 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday.
Re-opening Guidance & Resources
Federal Guidance Documents
- White House Guidance for Opening Up America
- EPA Guidance on Disinfectants and COVID-19
- OSHA Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) COVID-19 Legal Guidance
CDC Guidance and Resources
- CDC Guidance and Decision Tools on Re-opening Schools, Child Care, and Youth Programs
- CDC Guidance and Decision Tools on Re-opening Colleges, Universities and Higher Learning
- CDC Guidance and Decision Tools on Re-opening of Businesses and Workplaces
- CDC Guidance and Decision Tools on Re-opening of Community and Faith-Based Organizations
- CDC Guidance and Decision Tools on Resumption of Gatherings and Community Events
- CDC Guidance and Decision Tools on Re-opening of Parks and Recreation Facilities
- CDC Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces
Arizona Executive Orders Pertaining to Re-opening
Retail Establishments and Theaters
- Guidance for Theaters PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/14/2020)
- ADHS Guidance for Retail Business PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/08/2020)
- Governor Ducey’s Guidance for Retail Business PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/01/2020)
Food Establishments
- Governor Ducey’s Guidance for Restaurants Providing Dine-In Services PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (06/17/2020)
- ADHS Guidance for Restaurants/Food Establishments providing Dine-in Services PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (05/08/2020)
- See Maricopa County Environmental Services COVID-19 page for guidances, resources, and printables
Personal Services, Spas and Salons
- Governor Ducey’s Guidance for Barbers and Cosmetologists PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/04/20)
- Governor Ducey’s Guidance for Spas, Massage and Personal Services PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/12/20)
- ADHS Guidance for Spas, Massage and Personal Services PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/12/20)
Recreational Facilities, Gyms and Pools
- ADHS Guidance for Pools PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- ADHS Guidance for Gyms and Fitness Providers PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- CDC Considerations for Public Pools, Hot Tubs, and Water Playgrounds During COVID-19
- CDC Guidance for Administrators in Parks and Recreational Facilities
Casinos & Gaming
- Governor Ducey’s Guidance for Casinos & Gaming PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/15/20)
- ADHS Guidance for Casinos & Gaming PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/14/20)
Places of Worship
- Governor Ducey’s Guidance for Places of Worship PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF (Rev. 05/12/20)
Industry-specific Guidance Documents
- BOMA Guidance on Preparing Buildings for Re-Entry Amid COVID-19
- IAAPA Re-Opening Guidance for Global Attractions PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- International Council of Shopping Centers Re-Opening Best Practices PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- American Hotel & Lodging Association COVID-19 Cleaning Standards PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
Additional Resources
- CDC Re-opening Workplaces Decision-Tree PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- Arizona Department of Health Services Guidance
- Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19
- OSHA Coronavirus Resources
Financial Help for Employers
Resources for Small Businesses
- Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Small Business Issues and Solutions Guide
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act
- Free Tools, Resources, and Financial Health for Business Owners Hit by COVID-19
Government Directives Impacting Employers
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements
- List of Arizona Executive Orders
- Additional Guidance on Essential Services - 4/3/2020
- List of "Essential Services"
- Arizona Administrative Order 2020-02 - Emergency Measures for COVID-19 PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- Coronavirus Tax Relief
Employee Assistance
Information Hotlines
- 2-1-1 COVID-19 Hotline (English)
- 2-1-1 COVID-19 Hotline (Spanish) PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
Unemployment
- Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Services Related to COVID-19
PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF - Guide to Unemployment Insurance PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- How to Apply for Unemployment Insurance PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- FEMA Disaster Unemployment PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF
- Temporary Work and Businesses That Are Hiring Now
Health insurance
- What (People and Policymakers) Can Do About Losing Coverage During the COVID-19 Crisis
- Health Insurance Providers Respond to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- AHCCCS COVID-19 Information
- AHCCCS - FAQs Regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQs) Sobre la Enfermedad por Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-2019) PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF PDF