The spread of COVID-19 is impacting employers across the country. 
For workforces not able to work remotely, employers are asking how they should address workers who exhibit symptoms or have a confirmed case of the disease.
With the number of positive cases of the virus continuing to rise, what steps should you take if one of your workers has COVID-19, and when should they be allowed to return to work? The CDC offers guidance on prudent timelines for different scenarios.
For instance, according to CDC, if an employee has a fever and a cough, but then gets better without COVID-19 testing or medical care, they would be allowed to return to work under the following conditions:
- Three days have passed since their recovery, which means their fever is resolved without the use of fever-reducing medication and their respiratory symptoms have improved; and
- At least seven days have passed since they first experienced symptoms
Another case could be an employee who is medically confirmed to have COVID-19 and is showing symptoms. In this instance, the worker would be allowed to return to work if:
- Their fever has been resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications;
- Their respiratory symptoms have improved (for example, cough or shortness of breath); and
- They have had two negative COVID-19 tests
For employees who have a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19, but are not showing any symptoms, CDC currently says they may return to work:
- After at least seven days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 test; and
- They have had no subsequent illness
CDC advises that local and state level authorities may adapt this and other COVID-19 guidance as circumstances change. The agency also has specific return-to-work guidance for healthcare personnel with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Visit our COVID-19 webpage for further information and the latest resources on how you can address the virus in your workplace.
Related Links
Injury/Illness Recordkeeping and COVID-19: Updated OSHA Guidance
OSHA Provides Temporary Guidance for Respirator Fit-Testing in Healthcare
The Safety Professional’s Role in Planning for a Pandemic
How to Apply the Hierarchy of Controls in a Pandemic
How to Qualitatively Fit Test Your Respirators