Navigating Covid-19 guidelines in the workplace
Navigating Covid-19 guidelines in the workplace
Newton Wellesley Hospital President Errol Norwitz, M.D. answers employers frequently asked questions related to navigating covid-19 guidelines in the workplace. (Prepared Jan 22, 2022)
An employee calls in and reports that a close family member with whom they live just tested positive for COVID-19. They are asymptomatic. Can they come to work?
This depends on their vaccination status and ability and willingness to wear a mask. I am including a table (taken from the link below) with the current guidelines, but please refer to this link for the latest MA DPH post-exposure quarantine guidance. Of note, if the employee develops symptoms at any point during 10 days after the exposure, they must isolate until they test negative by either a home rapid antigen test or PCR-based test. If they test negative, they can continue to follow the quarantine requirements outlined below.
An employee developed symptoms and tested positive using a rapid home antigen test. Do they need to get a PCR-based test to confirm the diagnosis? How long should they be out of work? Do they need to have a negative test before returning to work? If so, when should this be done?
They do not need to confirm a positive home antigen test with a PCR-based test in the setting of symptoms. They should isolate and remain out of work for 10 days after symptom onset or, if not reliably known, from the date of their first positive test.
There is a contingency strategy now in place to return employees back to work on day 6 so long as their symptoms have resolved and they reliably wear a high quality, well-fitting mask from days 6-10. If the staff member takes a home antigen test between days 6–10 and the result is still positive, they should not return to work before day 10. In general, waiting until day 10 is safest.
The restaurant business is being disproportionately impacted since clients remove their masks while eating and drinking creating a high-risk environment for viral spread. Is there any specific advice you can offer to restaurant owners to protect their staff?
Provide staff with high quality, well-fitting masks. Beware of counterfeit masks, which can be less effective than disposable surgical masks (discussed below).
Although not routinely recommended by CDC, the use of eye protection (such as protective glasses or a face shield) may offer additional protection.
Remember also to encourage staff to wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their face and eyes, and to vigorously wipe down common areas and recently vacated tables.
An employee working in a restaurant is concerned that they just had an exposure as they served a client who was eating dinner unmasked and appeared to be symptomatic. What constitutes an exposure? Can they continue to work? Do they need to get tested?
According to CDC, an exposure is defined as a face-to-face engagement for more than 15 min within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 from 2 days before and up to 10 days after symptom onset (or up to 10 days after a positive test if asymptomatic).
Reassure them that by wearing a high quality, well-fitting mask they are highly unlikely to have sustained an exposure. As such, they can continue to work and do not need to get tested so long as they remain asymptomatic.
Regarding indoor sporting and workout facilities, clients do not wear masks while playing sport or working out. Do you have specific recommendations regarding these businesses? What about spectators on the sideline watching their children play sport?
Depending on the sport, the risk of infection while playing indoors maskless and having close contact with other maskless individuals is moderate. This risk can be reduced by wearing masks while playing.
SARS-CoV-2 virus is infectious up to 2 days prior to symptom onset. As such, even if all players are asymptomatic and vaccinated, there is still a risk of transmission. The general trend in our community right now is to allow vaccinated, otherwise healthy and asymptomatic individuals to accept a moderate risk of acquiring a mild illness from COVID-19 infection in order to gain the joy of playing sports.
As for spectators, right now during the Omicron surge they should remain masked and ideally physically distanced for the duration of the event.
An employee wants to wear a cloth mask rather than a surgical mask. Is this acceptable?
This depends on the nature of your business. I would recommend against permitting single- layer cloth masks in industries that are high-risk for viral spread (e.g., the restaurant business) or that serve patrons that may be vulnerable (such as the elderly or unvaccinated).
I have heard that many of the N95/KN95 masks on the market are fake. Is this true? Ho can I get a reliable supply?
This is true. For more information, please refer to this recent, carefully researched and well written NYT article from January 13, 2022 about how to spot counterfeit masks.
An employee calls in and reports that a close family member with whom they live just tested positive for COVID-19. They are asymptomatic. Can they come to work?
This depends on their vaccination status and ability and willingness to wear a mask. I am including a table (taken from the link below) with the current guidelines, but please refer to this link for the latest MA DPH post-exposure quarantine guidance. Of note, if the employee develops symptoms at any point during 10 days after the exposure, they must isolate until they test negative by either a home rapid antigen test or PCR-based test. If they test negative, they can continue to follow the quarantine requirements outlined below.
An employee developed symptoms and tested positive using a rapid home antigen test. Do they need to get a PCR-based test to confirm the diagnosis? How long should they be out of work? Do they need to have a negative test before returning to work? If so, when should this be done?
They do not need to confirm a positive home antigen test with a PCR-based test in the setting of symptoms. They should isolate and remain out of work for 10 days after symptom onset or, if not reliably known, from the date of their first positive test.
There is a contingency strategy now in place to return employees back to work on day 6 so long as their symptoms have resolved and they reliably wear a high quality, well-fitting mask from days 6-10. If the staff member takes a home antigen test between days 6–10 and the result is still positive, they should not return to work before day 10. In general, waiting until day 10 is safest.
The restaurant business is being disproportionately impacted since clients remove their masks while eating and drinking creating a high-risk environment for viral spread. Is there any specific advice you can offer to restaurant owners to protect their staff?
Provide staff with high quality, well-fitting masks. Beware of counterfeit masks, which can be less effective than disposable surgical masks (discussed below).
Although not routinely recommended by CDC, the use of eye protection (such as protective glasses or a face shield) may offer additional protection.
Remember also to encourage staff to wash their hands regularly, avoid touching their face and eyes, and to vigorously wipe down common areas and recently vacated tables.
An employee working in a restaurant is concerned that they just had an exposure as they served a client who was eating dinner unmasked and appeared to be symptomatic. What constitutes an exposure? Can they continue to work? Do they need to get tested?
According to CDC, an exposure is defined as a face-to-face engagement for more than 15 min within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 from 2 days before and up to 10 days after symptom onset (or up to 10 days after a positive test if asymptomatic).
Reassure them that by wearing a high quality, well-fitting mask they are highly unlikely to have sustained an exposure. As such, they can continue to work and do not need to get tested so long as they remain asymptomatic.
Regarding indoor sporting and workout facilities, clients do not wear masks while playing sport or working out. Do you have specific recommendations regarding these businesses? What about spectators on the sideline watching their children play sport?
Depending on the sport, the risk of infection while playing indoors maskless and having close contact with other maskless individuals is moderate. This risk can be reduced by wearing masks while playing.
SARS-CoV-2 virus is infectious up to 2 days prior to symptom onset. As such, even if all players are asymptomatic and vaccinated, there is still a risk of transmission. The general trend in our community right now is to allow vaccinated, otherwise healthy and asymptomatic individuals to accept a moderate risk of acquiring a mild illness from COVID-19 infection in order to gain the joy of playing sports.
As for spectators, right now during the Omicron surge they should remain masked and ideally physically distanced for the duration of the event.
An employee wants to wear a cloth mask rather than a surgical mask. Is this acceptable?
This depends on the nature of your business. I would recommend against permitting single- layer cloth masks in industries that are high-risk for viral spread (e.g., the restaurant business) or that serve patrons that may be vulnerable (such as the elderly or unvaccinated).
I have heard that many of the N95/KN95 masks on the market are fake. Is this true? Ho can I get a reliable supply?
This is true. For more information, please refer to this recent, carefully researched and well written NYT article from January 13, 2022 about how to spot counterfeit masks.
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