What if an employee gets sick at work and they have not yet tested for COVID-19? If an employee develops any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the employee should cease work activities and be separated from coworkers, customers and visitors and, if possible, sent immediately home. If possible, employees should go directly to their car and phone-in to their manager/supervisor and wait for guidance. The employee should also consult with their healthcare provider about their illness and PCR or antigen (swab) testing for COVID-19. If an employee cannot immediately go home, designate an enclosed area with closable doors to serve as an isolation room until the employee may be removed from the worksite either by private care or ambulance. Restrict the number of personnel entering this room and properly disinfect the room after use. The employee should follow home isolation guidelines, and should not return to work until they have met the Dallas County criteria to discontinue home isolation.
Can I require a doctor's note or negative test for an employee to return to work? Any employee with symptoms of COVID-19 or who tested positive for the disease should follow the DCHHS 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.
Can I inform other employees if a member of our staff tests positive for COVID-19? Yes, DCHHS 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 quarantine at home.
My employee told me they have a sick person at home. Do they need to be excluded from work? If an employee reports and exposure to someone who is sick with COVID-19 or who is being tested for it, the employee should follow the DCHHS guidelines for exposures. The employee should consult with their healthcare provider to determine if they should be tested for COVID-19 themselves.
