/>iReleased on July 29, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on return to work. This version has been revised to address an inconsistency for critical infrastructure employees who have been exposed to COVID-19 (the CDC has not updated that guidance since December). To make this section consistent with the CDC’s new guidance for vaccinated employees, that section now states that asymptomatic critical infrastructure employees can continue to work but, regardless of vaccination status, employees should be tested 3-5 days following the known exposure and should wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. Unvaccinated employees should continue to mask and practice other precautions (e.g. social distancing) outdoors as well for 14 days or until a negative test result is received.
This updated guidance is outlined in the chart below which addresses return to work scenarios under the current CDC guidance.
*** as of 7/29/2021
|
Situation |
CDC Guidance on Return to Work |
Critical Infrastructure |
|
Positive test and symptoms |
Symptom Based:
Test Based: If recommended by healthcare provider, 2 negative tests in a row taken at least 24 hours apart. Vaccination status does not matter. Sources: |
No Change |
|
No test or negative test and symptoms |
Symptom Based:
Test Based: If recommended by healthcare provider, 2 negative tests in a row taken at least 24 hours apart. Vaccination status does not matter. Sources: |
No Change |
|
Positive test without symptoms |
Time Based: 10 days since positive test Test Based: If recommended by healthcare provider, 2 negative tests in a row taken at least 24 hours apart. Vaccination status does not matter. Sources: |
No Change |
|
Exposed with symptoms |
Symptom Based:
Test Based: If recommended by healthcare provider, 2 negative tests in a row taken at least 24 hours apart. Vaccination status does not matter. Sources: |
No Change |
|
Exposed without symptoms |
If in “close contact” with someone who has tested positive (defined as within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes over a 24 period starting from 2 days before illness onset or positive test), 10 days after exposure or 7 days after exposure if negative test is obtained (test can be taken within 48 hours of planned end of quarantine). But no isolation needed if:
However, fully vaccinated employees should be tested 3-5 days following the known exposure and should wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. Sources:
|
Can continue to work as long as they remain asymptomatic. However, regardless of vaccination status, employees should be tested 3-5 days following the known exposure and should wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. Unvaccinated employees should continue to mask and practice other precautions (e.g. social distancing) both indoors and outdoors for 14 days or until a negative test result is received. No additional precautions or testing is needed (as long as they remain asymptomatic) if:
Sources:
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