CDC Clarifies Critical Infrastructure Worker Guidance

Friday, November 20, 2020

On November 16, 2020, the Heart for Illness Management (CDC) clarified its steerage allowing vital infrastructure employees to return to work earlier than the top of the usual 14-day quarantine interval following publicity to COVID-19.  On this up to date steerage, the CDC reiterated its customary advice that every one people identified to be uncovered to an individual with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 ought to quarantine for 14 days, with the doable restricted exception of asymptomatic vital infrastructure employees who haven’t examined constructive for SARS-CoV-2 (“COVID-19”).

Whereas earlier CDC steerage allowed vital infrastructure employers to contemplate permitting employees who had been uncovered however examined adverse to proceed to work when essential to protect the perform of vital infrastructure workplaces; in the newest steerage, the CDC clarifies what circumstances would possibly warrant use of the exception stating “that reintegrating uncovered vital infrastructure employees who will not be experiencing any signs and haven’t examined constructive again into onsite operations must be used as a final resort and solely in restricted circumstances, akin to when cessation of operation of a facility might trigger critical hurt or hazard to public well being or security.”

The CDC acknowledged it issued the up to date steerage to align with new scientific proof, evolving epidemiology and the necessity to simplify the evaluation of danger; particularly:

Elevated proof that contaminated folks pose a transmission danger with out signs or earlier than the onset of acknowledged signs;

Ongoing neighborhood transmission in lots of elements of the nation;

A necessity to speak successfully to most people; and

Continued give attention to lowering transmission by social distancing and private prevention methods.

The CDC explains that “[r]eintegrating uncovered employees who will not be experiencing any signs and who haven’t examined constructive again into onsite operations carries appreciable danger to different employees as a result of many individuals with COVID-19 are asymptomatic however can nonetheless unfold illness, and exams are imperfect. Bringing uncovered employees again shouldn’t be the primary or most acceptable choice to pursue in managing vital work duties. Quarantine for 14 days continues to be the most secure strategy to restrict the unfold of COVID-19 and cut back the prospect of an outbreak among the many workforce.”

The brand new steerage additionally encourages all vital infrastructure employers to work with native well being officers on any reintegration of uncovered employees and reiterates the extra danger mitigation precautions required together with pre-screening, on-site screening with temperature checks, ongoing well being monitoring, cleansing and disinfecting, social distancing, and guaranteeing all staff put on fabric masks.

This new steerage follows a development we now have seen in some states.  Because the preliminary CDC vital infrastructure employee steerage was issued in April, a number of states have adopted guidelines narrowing the circumstances underneath which vital infrastructure employers can permit asymptomatic uncovered staff to proceed to work.  For instance:

In New York, staff who’re uncovered to COVID-19 however stay asymptomatic can proceed to work if “deemed important and significant for the operation or security of the office, upon a documented willpower by their supervisor and a human assets consultant in session with acceptable state and native well being authorities.”

In Wisconsin, the Division of Well being has not endorsed uncovered, asymptomatic employees returning to work earlier than a 14-day quarantine interval, nonetheless, native well being departments in Wisconsin are allowed to grant case by case exceptions.

In New Mexico, if a vital enterprise can be compelled to stop operations because of the quarantine of uncovered, asymptomatic employees, then such employees might proceed working in the event that they check adverse for COVID-19 and sure security measures are met.

In mild of the brand new CDC steerage, vital infrastructure employers ought to think about reviewing their insurance policies and procedures for returning asymptomatic uncovered staff again to work, protecting in thoughts that state and native orders, and steerage from state and native well being departments and security companies, might impose totally different and extra restrictive necessities. Amongst different issues, employers ought to think about:

Articulating and documenting the influence on operations akin to how and why enterprise operations would possibly stop and, if relevant, the potential influence on well being and security if uncovered, asymptomatic staff are held out of labor for a 14-day quarantine interval.

Consulting with the native well being departments on the reintegration of uncovered employees.

Growing plans and protocols to implement further security precautions, together with pre-screening, well being monitoring, and preventive measures.

As at all times, employers should additionally proceed to adjust to all relevant federal OSHA and state equal office security necessities.

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