On Wednesday, the CDC issued interim guidance for implementing safety practices for critical infrastructure workers who may have had exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. We’ve summarized the highlights below:
Employers should:
- Measure employee’s temperatures and assess symptoms prior to them starting work, using appropriate PPE.
- Clean and disinfect all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, and shared electronic equipment routinely.
- Increase air exchanges in rooms and increase the frequency of cleaning commonly touched surfaces.
- Send an employee who develops symptoms during the day home immediately and clean and disinfect that person’s workspace.
- Compile information on persons who had contact or were within six feet of a sick employees during the time the employee had symptoms and two days prior.
Workers who have had an exposure but remain asymptomatic should:
- Self-monitor their symptoms under the supervision of their employer’s occupational health program.
- Wear a face mask at all times in the workplace for 14 days.
- Maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.
- Not share headsets or other work equipment that are near the mouth or nose.
In sum, the CDC’s advice is intended to ensure continuity of operations for these essential critical infrastructure functions, while protecting workers and the community from further spread of the virus.