COVID-19 ISOLATION AND RETURN TO WORK INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNIT SUPERVISORS

Effective Date: January 2024

Purpose and Scope:

The COVID Response Team created during the pandemic will cease to exist as of January 1, 2024. The Office of Occupational Health will remain available for consultation by supervisors.

These instructions are intended for the use of units’ supervisors when employees or students report exposure to, symptoms consistent with, or testing for COVID-19.

These apply to all Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso employees, students, and approved visitors.

Procedure:

Reporting requirements to supervisor:

  • Those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, headache, body aches, new loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, nasal congestion or runny nose).
  • Those who had a high risk exposure (less than 6 feet distance, more than 10 minutes, no masks on either) to an individual with known COVID-19 with testing or onset within the last 10 days.
  • Those testing positive for COVID even without symptoms or exposure.

Instructions for high-risk exposure:

  • If symptoms present within 10 days following exposure, see instructions for symptoms.
  • If no symptoms, may continue to work with mask and monitor symptoms for 10 days after exposure with last day of exposure counted as day zero.
  • Test on the 5th day of exposure (with last day of exposure counted as day zero) and submit results to supervisor.
  • Negative test on day 5: continue to work with mask and monitor for symptoms until day 10.
  • Positive test on day 5: isolate at home, see return to work after infection.

 Instructions for symptoms:

Anyone with even mild symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should receive a viral test (either nucleic acid amplification –“PCR”- or antigen test – Home Test) for SARS-CoV-2 as soon as possible, and isolate at home until test result is available.
Free COVID PCR Testing: https://www.epstrong.org/testing.php

  • If using PCR, a single negative test is sufficient.
  • If using Home test, a negative result should be confirmed by either a negative PCR or second negative Home test taken 48 hours after the first negative test.
  • COVID test negative: may return to work next day (with mask for 10 days) if the following are met:
    • 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
    • Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved.
  • COVID test Positive: isolate at home and see return to work after infection.

Return to work after infection (positive test):

 Asymptomatic or with mild to moderate illness who do not indicate being immunocompromised could return to work after the following criteria have been met: 

  • Criteria 1 AND 2 AND 3 or 4 must be met.
    1. At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
    2. Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved.
    3. After at least 5 days (1st day symptoms onset or test done when asymptomatic counted as day zero) have passed, retest by either a NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test) or antigen test.


      If test is Negative       return to work on day 6

      If test is Positive retest on day 7 and continue to isolate at home

      If day 7 test is Negative return to work on day 8

      If day 7 test is Positive continue to isolate at home until day 10 and return on day 11

    4. If no re-test is done, return to work on day 11

Severe infection and/or individual indicate being immunocompromised: contact Occupational Health office for guidance.

Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2