Reversing course on employee quarantines, federal health officials now say that essential workers who’ve been exposed to the coronavirus can stay on the job while monitoring their symptoms.
The new guidance, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 8, applies only to businesses deemed critical, such as hospitals, grocery stores and food processing plants.
Previous guidance called for all workers to isolate at home for 14 days after being close to anyone suspected of having the virus, in case they too became sick and infected others. Now employees can keep working as long as they don’t have symptoms, but they should wear a facemask, avoid getting close to other people, and submit to a daily temperature check.
