Things over at the CDC seem, well, tumultuous. Changing guidance within a week? Nuts. What should employers be doing right now?
Here are last week’s changes, which still remain in effect:
- If you have COVID-19, isolate for at least five days, with day zero being the date you tested positive if asymptomatic, and day zero being first day of symptoms if you have symptoms/no test.
- You can leave isolation after five full days if you have no symptoms or they are improving and NO FEVER.
The newest guidance change involves testing and masking:
- TESTING POSITIVE: If there is access to a test and you want to test, use an antigen test towards the end of 5 days of isolation. Positive test–continue to isolate until day 10.
- TESTING NEGATIVE: Isolation can end but wear a well-fitting mask at home and in public until day 10.
As you know, CDC guidance is not law. Following the guidance is a workplace best practice –and in many cases the state follows the CDC guidance as well. If it does not have the force of law, why bother you ask? As in all best practices, it is the best defense against claims, in this case COVID-19 related claims. The best practice now is to adopt policies that go a bit above the CDC or state threshold, to withstand these changes. We can help. We have fixed fee solutions that cover this and more to keep your workplace safe in the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape. Contact us.