If a Staff Member Has COVID-19

From the CDC website, updated March 30, 2021

If a staff member thinks or knows they had COVID-19, and had symptoms

Isolate for at least 5 days

• Stay at home for at least 5 days since symptoms first appeared (though the RCAB Pandemic Planning team recommends 10 days)
• End isolation after at least 5 full days and you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving*

*Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​

Take precautions until day 10

• Wear a well-fitting mask  for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
• Do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.
• Avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.

Most people do not require testing to decide when they can be around others; however, if your healthcare provider recommends testing, they will let you know when you can resume being around others based on your test results.

Note that these recommendations do not apply to persons with severe COVID-19 or with severely weakened immune systems (immunocompromised). People who are very sick from COVID-19 (this means people who were hospitalized or required intensive care or ventilation support) and people who have weakened immune systems might need to isolate at home longer. They may also require testing with a viral test to determine when they can be around others. CDC recommends an isolation period of at least 10 and up to 20 days for people who were very sick from COVID-19 and for people with weakened immune systems. Consult with your healthcare provider about when you can resume being around other people. If you are unsure if your symptoms are severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.

Staff member tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms

If they continue to have no symptoms, they can be with others after 10 days have passed since they had a positive viral test for COVID-19. Most people do not require testing to decide when they can be around others; however, if the staff member’s healthcare provider recommends testing, they will let the staff member know when they can resume being around others based on their test results.

If they develop symptoms after testing positive, follow the guidance above for “If a staff member thinks or knows they had COVID-19, and had symptoms.”

Sample Language for COVID-19 Notification for Staff Members