COVID-19 Policies Update (Return to Work)

Paola Cubides

4 years ago

COVID-19 Guidelines

Purpose

MS-IL Staffing & Packaging takes the safety of all workers seriously, and our guidelines must be followed to ensure that all of us stay safe. This interim guidance is based on the current CDC Workplaces and Businesses COVID-19 guidelines. It is intended to provide MS-IL employees, Employees, and clients with the information necessary to properly handle reports of positive or presumptive workplace or community exposure to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Symptoms

According to the CDC, People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported — ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

– Fever or chills
– Cough
– Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
– Fatigue
– Muscle or body aches
– Headache
– New loss of taste or smell
– Sore throat
– Congestion and runny nose
– Nausea or vomiting
– Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. Anyone who develops COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms outside of work should refrain from coming to work and should immediately notify their managers and stay home until otherwise instructed,

COVID-19 Exposures

A workplace exposure occurs when an Employee has been in close contact with an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 while on assignment. A community exposure occurs when an Employee has been in close contact with an individual with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The risk of community exposure is significantly increased when the Employee has a confirmed COVID-19 household member.

Close Contact

According the CDC, close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before the illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection ) until the time the patient is isolated.

Brief Interactions

Brief interactions with individuals displaying COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms would be considered low risk exposures and would not require quarantine. Examples of brief interactions include briefly entering the workspace without having direct or close contact with an infected person or their secretions/excretions, brief conversation with someone for less than a cumulative of 15 minutes if both individuals were wearing all recommended PPE appropriate for the activity/interaction. Please contact MS-IL Workers Compensation Team for guidance regarding brief interactions.

High-Risk Exposure

Individuals with a prolonged close contact exposure to someone with a Presumptive Positive or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

Low-Risk Exposure

Individuals with a brief or prolonged interaction with a person with a Presumptive or Confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis where the individuals wore the PPE required, donned and doffed the PPE correctly, properly decontaminated all reusable equipment and contact surfaces in vehicles, and washed hands and exposed skin with soap and warm water. Individuals not within 6-foot radius of the person with a Presumptive Postive or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis should also be considered a low-risk exposure.

Return to Work Guidelines

Employee Tested Positive for COVID-19, Displayed COVID-19 Symptoms, or Reported Being in Close Contact to Someone Who is Positive for COVID-19

1. Employee reports COVID-19 diagnosis or COVID-19 symptoms to Account Manager.
2. Employee is instructed to stay home or, if at work, is sent home immediately.
3. Account Manager completes and submits Workers Compensation and Safety COVID-19 Information Form to workcomp@ms-il.com as soon as possible, but no more than within 24-hours of receiving notification from Employee.
4. Contact tracing conducted by workcomp@ms-il.com and Account Manager
5. Employee may return to work after:
- a. 10-days after positive diagnosis without having submitted a negative COVID-19 test result to Account Manager if they report no symptoms, OR
- b. 7 days after submitting a negative COVID-19 test result to Account Manager.

Employee Reports Being in Close Contact to Someone Who Shows COVID-19 Symptoms (Presumptive). Employee Displays No Symptoms.

1. Employee reports to Account Manager having been in close contact to someone who shows symptoms related to COVID-19 but has not yet tested positive.
2. Employee has been within 6 feet of the presumptive positive case for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period
3. Employee reports they do not have symptoms related to COVID-19
4. Account Manager completes and submits Workers Compensation and Safety COVID-19 Information Form to workcomp@ms-il.com as soon as possible, but no more than within 24-hours of receiving notification from Employee.
5. Contact tracing conducted by workcomp@ms-il.com and Account Manager
6. Employee and anyone else deemed to have been in near proximity to Employee is instructed should self-monitor for symptoms for next 14-days.
- a. If Employee(s) begins to display symptoms, employee may return to work after:
  - I. They have submitted a negative COVID-19 test result to Account Manager, OR
  - II. 7 days after last contact with person who had COVID-19 if not displaying symptoms.

Steps to Follow After Stopping Quarantine

After stopping quarantine, people should:

– Watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure
– If they have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact their local public health authority or healthcare provider
– Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash their hands, avoid crowds, and take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sources:

1. Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html
2. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html