A. Entities may allow HCP who have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, or who have traveled internationally in the past 14 days, whether healthcare providers or other facility staff, to work if all of the following conditions are met:
1. Furloughing such HCP would result in staff shortages that would adversely impact the operation of the healthcare entity and all other staffing options have been exhausted.
2. HCP who have been contacts to confirmed or suspected cases are asymptomatic.
3. HCP who are asymptomatic contacts of confirmed or suspected cases should self-monitor twice a day (i.e. temperature, symptoms), and undergo temperature monitoring and symptom checks at the beginning of each shift, and at least every 12 hours during a shift.
4. HCP who are asymptomatic contacts of confirmed or suspected cases should wear a facemask while working, until 14 days after the last high-risk exposure.
5. To the greatest extent possible, HCP working under these conditions should preferentially be assigned to patients at lower-risk for severe complications, as opposed to higher-risk patients (e.g. severely immunocompromised, elderly).
6. HCP allowed to return to work under these conditions should maintain self-quarantine when not at work, for a full 14 days.
7. At any time, if the HCP who are asymptomatic contacts to a positive case and working under these conditions develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should immediately stop work and isolate at home. All staff with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should be immediately referred for diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2.