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638 Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
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CDC Reopening Guidelines

Below are the CDC recommendations for individuals and employers when reopening.

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Individuals

Continue to practice good hygiene.

  • Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after touching frequently used items or surfaces.
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow.
  • Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible.
  • Strongly consider using face coverings while in public, and particularly when using mass transit.

People who feel sick should stay home.

  • Do not go to work or school.
  • Contact and follow the advice of your medical provider.
Employers

Develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and guidance, and informed by industry best practices, regarding:

  • Social distancing and protective equipment
  • Temperature checks
  • Testing, isolating, and contact tracing
  • Sanitation
  • Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas
  • Business travel

Monitor workforce for indicative symptoms. Do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider.

Develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following employee COVID+ test.

Employers should continue these practices to the extent possible to help prevent COVID-19 from emerging or resurging in their workplace. Such a resurgence could lead to increases in infected and sick employees, the increased need for contact tracing of individuals who visited a workplace, enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices, or even a temporary closure of the business.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-3. During reopening, employers should not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until _____.