COVID – Return to Work Policy

The CDC has updated its recommendations for return to work criteria for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.  After review, the City is updating its policies to align with these changes.

A test-based strategy is no longer recommended (except as noted below) because, in the majority of cases, it results in prolonged isolation of patients who continue to shed detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA but are no longer infectious.

Individuals with mild to moderate illness who are not severely immunocompromised:

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved

Note: Patients who are not severely immunocompromised and who were asymptomatic throughout their infection, may discontinue Transmission-based Precautions when at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive viral diagnostic test.

Patients with severe to critical illness, or who are severely immunocompromised:

• At least 10 days and up to 20 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved
• Consider consultation with infection control experts

Note:  For severely immunocompromised patients who were asymptomatic throughout their infection, Transmission-Based Precautions may be discontinued when at least 10 days and up to 20 days have passed since the date of their first positive viral diagnostic test.

Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-hospitalized-patients.html for additional information.