State Department of Health issues COVID-19 return-to-work guidance

New York State Capitol Building, Albany

The New York State Department of Health last week issued interim guidance for public and private employers following employee exposure or infection to COVID-19.

The guidance is intended to provide protocols and policies for employees seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, or after an employee had “close or proximate” contact with a person with COVID-19.

“As employers slowly begin to return employees back to the workplace, diligence must be paid to the health and safety of employees, especially for those employees that previously tested positive for COVID-19 or had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time,” the guidance states.

Employers and employees should take the following actions related to COVID-19 symptoms or exposure, according to the guidance:

If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of whether the employee is symptomatic or asymptomatic, the employee may return to work upon completing at least 10 days of isolation from the onset of symptoms or 10 days of isolation after the first positive test if they remain asymptomatic.
If an employee has had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time AND is experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms, the employee may return to work upon completing at least 10 days of isolation from the onset of symptoms.
If an employee has had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time AND is not experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms, the employee may return to work upon completing 14 days of self-quarantine.
If an employee is symptomatic upon arrival at work or becomes sick with COVID-19 symptoms while at the workplace, absent close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19, the employee must be separated and sent home immediately and may return to work upon completing at least 10 days of isolation from the onset of symptoms OR upon receipt of a negative COVID-19 test result.

The full guidance can be accessed on the New York Department of Health website.