Frequently asked questions

Managing employees with COVID-19

What to do if staff has Covid-19 symptoms at work

Suspected COVID Case in the workplace:

Employees who have symptoms (link to symptoms of COVID) when they arrive at work or become sick during the day should immediately be separated from other employees, customers, and visitors and sent home.

Employees who develop symptoms outside of work should notify their supervisor and stay home.

Sick employees should follow MOH guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Employees should not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue and have consulted with a healthcare provider

Employers should not require sick employees to provide a COVID-19 test result or healthcare provider’s note to validate their illness, qualify for sick leave, or return to work. Healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely manner.

What should I do is someone is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in your workplace?

1. Clean and Disinfect your facility when someone is sick

If there has been a sick person or someone who has COVID-19 in your facility within the last 24 hours, you should clean and disinfect the spaces they occupied.

2. Before cleaning and disinfecting

Close off areas used by the person who is sick and do not use those areas until they have been cleaned and disinfected.
Wait as long as possible (at least several hours) before you clean and disinfect.

3. While cleaning and disinfecting

Open doors and windows and use fans or air conditioning settings to increase air circulation in the area.
Use products from recommended list for cleaning according to the instructions on the product label.
Wear a mask and gloves while cleaning and disinfecting.
Focus on the immediate areas occupied by the person who is sick or diagnosed with COVID-19 unless they have already been cleaned and disinfected.

One of our employees tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do?

1. Instruct the positive employee to stay home and isolate/call 119

Individuals who are infected with COVID-19 must not report to work during the isolation period. They must isolate at home for at least 14 days after symptoms began (or 14 days after being tested if no symptoms). The day the individual first showed symptoms of illness (or the test date if they do not have symptoms) is “Day 0.” Count 14 days past that date for the isolation period. The employee can return to work the next day (Day 15) if they have been fever-free for 24 hours and other symptoms have improved. Even if the individual is fully vaccinated for COVID-19, they must isolate for at least 14 days if they test positive. The Health Department may contact the positive employee to provide information and conduct contact tracing. You must protect the confidentiality of your employee. Legally, you cannot tell other staff or third parties the employee’s name or health information.

2. Determine when the person was at the facility while contagious.

If the person has symptoms, the contagious period starts 2 days before symptoms first began and goes until the person begins isolating at home away from others. If the person does not have any symptoms, the contagious period starts 2 days before the COVID-19 test was taken and goes until the person begins isolating at home. Determine the dates that others were at risk of exposure (i.e. what dates the person was on site/at work while contagious).

3. Determine who was a “close contact” of the positive person while they were contagious.

A “close contact” is someone who was within 1 meter of a person with COVID-19 during their contagious period for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, either with or without wearing a mask. Individual interactions closer than 6 feet to the COVID-19 positive person should be added up for a total number of minutes of exposure that occurred during a 24-hour period (i.e. three separate 5-minute exposures would total 15 minutes). Review schedules to see who was at the facility on the dates of potential exposure. Talk to the positive employee and watch surveillance video, if available, to determine who met the close contact criteria.

4. Notify close contacts that they were exposed.

Notify close contacts directly that they were exposed, while protecting the privacy of the positive person (i.e. notify them they were exposed and provide the date(s) of exposure, but do not disclose name or identifying details of the COVID-19 positive individual).

5. Notify other potentially impacted people.

Inform other employees and those who may have had casual contact with the COVID-19 positive individual that there was a positive case at your facility, while protecting the privacy of the positive person (i.e. inform people who were on site that there was a COVID-19 positive person there on specified date(s)). Let them know that any close contacts who potentially had a higher risk exposure have been identified and will be notified directly. If they are not notified directly of an exposure, they are considered low risk – similar to any time a person goes out in any public setting (such as the grocery store) when there is a high level of community transmission. These lower risk individuals should monitor for symptoms and seek testing if they develop symptoms in the 14 days following potential exposure.

6. Clean, disinfect, and ventilate the facility.

If less than 24 hours have passed since the sick/diagnosed person has been there, open doors and windows and use fans to increase air circulation and clean and disinfect the area, focusing on frequently touched surfaces in offices, bathrooms, common areas, and shared electronic equipment (tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, etc.). If more than 24 hours have passed, cleaning is enough. If more than 3 days have passed, no additional cleaning or disinfecting is needed.

Returning to work after having COVID

If someone tests positive for COVID-19, when can they go back to work?

Isolation is used to keep someone who is infected with COVID-19 separated from others while they are contagious in order to prevent the spread of disease. Individuals in isolation must stay home, separate themselves from others (stay in specific room/area and use a separate bathroom if available), monitor their health, and follow directions from their local health department. They are not allowed to enter or return to the workplace until they have met the return to work criteria outlined below.

Individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, or experienced symptoms and know/believe they have COVID-19, can safely return to work if they meet ALL of the following criteria:

At least 14 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and
At least 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, and
Other symptoms have improved. (Note: Loss of taste and smell may continue for weeks or months after recovery. This does not delay the end of isolation/ability to safely return to work as long as other symptoms have improved.)

If the employee did not have any symptoms, they can return to work 15 days after the date they were tested (i.e. on Day 16, with date test administered as Day 0).

If the employee is fully vaccinated for COVID-19, they are still required to complete a minimum 14-day isolation if they test positive for COVID-19.

14-day isolation timeline & return to work date calculation:

Day 0 = date symptoms first started (or date test was taken if no symptoms at all)
Day 1 = the day after symptoms first started (or the day after test was taken if no symptoms)
Day 14 = must isolate at home away from others through the end of Day 14
Day 15 = first date they are potentially eligible to end isolation and return to work

*Some people with severe illness may continue to be infectious beyond 14 days. These isolation guidelines apply to mild/typical cases of COVID-19; they do not necessarily apply to people with severe COVID-19 illness or weakened immune systems (immunocompromised). The isolation timeframe may be extended for hospitalized, severely ill, or severely immunocompromised individuals. The positive employee must follow the guidance provided by the local health department or hospital.

If someone is exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual, when can they go back to work?

Quarantine is used to keep someone who was exposed to COVID-19 (i.e. someone identified as a “close contact”) away from others to prevent unknowingly spreading the disease. Individuals infected with COVID-19 are contagious starting two days before symptoms appear. In addition, individuals can be infected with COVID-19 and not experience any symptoms at all, but still be contagious and infecting others around them. Quarantining someone with a known exposure helps prevent the spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their local health department. They are not allowed to enter or return to the workplace until they have met the return to work criteria outlined below. This reduces the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace and is part of ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for all employees.

Individuals who have had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual can return to work if they meet ALL of the following:

At least 14 days have passed since the last date of exposure to the COVID-19 positive person, and
The individual with close contact has not developed any symptoms, and
The individual with close contact does not have any pending COVID-19 test results.

Even if the close contact tests negative for COVID-19, they must complete the full 14-day quarantine period.

Calculating quarantine timeline & return to work date:

Day 0 = last date of contact with the COVID19+ person
Day 1 = first day without any contact with the COVID-19 positive person
Day 14 = close contact must quarantine away from others through the end of Day 14
Day 15 = first date the close contact is potentially eligible to return to work

How do I count the 14 days of isolation for a sick or COVID-19 positive individual?

For isolation (sick or COVID-19 positive individual), the day the individual first showed symptoms of illness is “Day 0.” Count 14 days past that date for the isolation period. The employee can return to work the next day (Day 15). Be sure that the employee is fever-free for 24 hours and other symptoms have improved before returning.

Example: Employee developed fever 9/14/21 (Day 0). Fever went away 9/16/21. Employee has no other symptoms. Employee must isolate through 9/28/21 and can return to work 9/29/21 (which is 14 full days after illness began and at least 24 hours fever-free).

If the person did not have symptoms, the date the positive test was taken is “Day 0.” Count 14 days past that date for the isolation time frame. The employee can return to work the next day (Day 15).

Example: Employee got tested 10/11/21 but did not have symptoms. Results came back positive 12/11/21. Date of test on 10/20/21 is “Day 0.” Employee never developed symptoms. Employee must isolate through 24/11/21 and can return to work 25/11/21 (which is 14 full days after test taken).

An employee has been vaccinated for COVID-19 and was just exposed. What should they do?

Vaccinated individuals exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet ALL the following:

The exposed individual is fully vaccinated, meaning it has been at least 14 days since receiving the final dose in the vaccine series (2 doses of AstraZeneca or Sinopharm)
The individual has not developed ANY symptoms since their exposure.

Fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 should get tested 5-7 days after the exposure and wear a mask in indoor public settings for 14 days after the exposure, or until they receive a negative test result.

If the employee is fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and they test positive for COVID-19, they are still required to complete a minimum 14-day isolation.

An employee is unvaccinated and had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual. Can they get a test and go back to work instead of being in quarantine for the full 14 days?

No. If someone is exposed to COVID-19, it can take up to 2 weeks to develop illness. The unvaccinated individual must finish the full 14 days of quarantine, even if they test negative.

If an employee has COVID-19 symptoms but does not get tested, when can they go back to work?

Individuals who have COVID-19 symptoms and who are tested can return to work if they meet ALL the following:

Mild symptoms improve in a short period of time, and
The person tests negative for COVID-19, and
The person is not a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual.

If they meet the above criteria, they do not need to continue to stay at home for the 14 full days after symptoms began. However, it is a good policy for anyone to be fever-free without the use of medications for 24 hours before returning to work. Also, vomiting or diarrhea should be gone for 24 hours before returning to work.

If symptoms continue after a negative test, they should see a health care provider to rule out other illnesses.

An employee is in quarantine and has developed symptoms and/or tested positive. When can they go back to work?

If an employee develops symptoms while in quarantine, they now need to follow the return-to-work guidelines for a positive person. They must isolate for 14 days after symptoms start, and then be at least 24 hours fever-free, with other symptoms improved before returning on Day 15. They should seek COVID-19 testing.

If they did not have symptoms and test positive, they need to isolate for 14 days after the test was taken. They can return to work on Day 15.

An employee who did not have any symptoms tested positive for COVID-19. Then they developed symptoms a couple days later. When can they go back to work?

They need to isolate for 14 days after symptoms start, and then be at least 24 hours fever-free, with other symptoms improved, before returning on day 15.

An employee was already positive for COVID-19 and was just exposed. Do they need to quarantine?

A previously positive individual does not have to quarantine after close contact with someone with COVID-19 if they meet ALL of the following criteria:

Tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 3 months, and
Has recovered, and
The individual has not developed ANY symptoms since their exposure.

If they do not meet the above criteria, they need to quarantine.

An unvaccinated employee was already a close contact and was under quarantine and was just exposed again by someone else. Do they need to quarantine again?

Yes. If an unvaccinated employee who completed quarantine is exposed to the virus again and is considered a close contact, they need to quarantine for 14 days AGAIN. If they get sick or have symptoms while in quarantine, they would then follow the return to work guidelines for a positive person. They must isolate for 14 days after symptoms start, and then be at least 24 hours fever-free, with other symptoms improved, before returning on Day 15. They should seek COVID-19 testing.

One of our employees has symptoms or is “suspected” of having COVID-19. What should I do?

Instruct the employee to stay home. Encourage them to be tested for COVID-19. Until results are available, they must isolate at home. If the employee chooses not to be tested, they must stay home for 14 days past the onset of their symptoms.

Begin identifying individuals with whom the employee may have had close contact, in the event the individual tests positive. Close contact means someone was closer than 1 meter for more than 15 minutes from an individual who is positive for COVID-19. It does not matter if the individuals were wearing face coverings. If the sick person tests positive, any unvaccinated individuals identified as close contacts must quarantine at home for 14 days following the last date of close contact.

Clean and disinfect the work environment of the employee, along with frequently touched surfaces like restroom doors, doorknobs/push bars, elevator buttons, etc. Use approved cleaners and disinfectants.

An unvaccinated employee’s household member has been diagnosed with COVID-19. What should I do?

If the unvaccinated employee has a household member who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the employee must quarantine at home for 14 days after the last date of close contact with the positive individual.

It is important to note that the quarantine time period does not begin until after the last date of close contact with the positive individual. For this reason, it is critical for positive individuals to isolate from other household members. If they do not properly isolate, the employee would be out of work during the 14 days of the positive household member’s isolation time period, PLUS an additional 14 days of quarantine.

If the employee develops symptoms, they should seek testing and follow the return-to-work guidelines for a positive person. They must isolate for 14 days after symptoms start, and then be at least 24 hours fever-free, with other symptoms improved before returning on Day 15.

An employee tested positive for COVID-19 and then their spouse/child tested positive a couple days later. Does this delay the employee’s return to work?

If the employee has tested positive for COVID-19, and their spouse, child, or other household member then tests positive, the employee will still follow their original 14-day isolation timeframe. They must isolate for 14 days after symptoms start (or 14 days after the test date if they do not have symptoms), and then be at least 24 hours fever-free, with other symptoms improved before returning on Day 15.

An employee showed up to work ill or became ill at work. What should I do?

If an employee comes to work sick or becomes ill while at work, direct them to go home immediately, even if their symptoms are mild. If they are having trouble breathing or cannot keep fluids down, have them contact their healthcare provider right away. Encourage the employee to be tested for COVID-19. Until results are available, the individual must isolate at home. Follow the return-to-work guidelines for a positive person. They must isolate for 14 days after symptoms start, and then be at least 24 hours fever-free, with other symptoms improved, before returning on Day 15.

Employment Advice and COVID-19

Find info on government or employer mandatory vaccinations, employers’ obligations and more.

Download COVID-19 Employment Advice Guide