While the best practices are likely to change as understanding of COVID-19 improves, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a preliminary set of guidelines for employers intended to help minimize the risk of workplace exposure to the virus, and to plan for the possibility of more widespread outbreaks.
To minimize risk of exposure, the CDC recommends employers:
· Strongly encourage sick employees to stay home;
· Separate employees at the office who appear to be sick;
· Encourage respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene;
· Increase environmental cleaning and sanitization; and
· Inform employees of guidelines for travel.
Employers are also encouraged to develop an infectious disease outbreak response plan, as a supplement to existing continuity planning. Any such plan should involve discussions with employees and be flexible in deployment, while also including details as to what resources will be available to employees in the event of exposure to COVID-19. Any plan should also be carefully reviewed by both employers and employees, to ensure no gaps or omissions.
Additional resources are available at the CDC’s COVID-19 site.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/business/coronavirus-offices-covid-19.html
