Businesses

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:

1. Cease work activities, put on a face mask, and avoid others as much as possible.
2. Notify their supervisor or occupational health services, then go home.
3. Consult with their healthcare provider about their illness and PCR or antigen (swab) testing for COVID-19.
4. 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.