FAQs Regarding COVID-19 in the workplace

Written By Troy Campbell

Leavenworth Business Members,

Cascade Medical would like to offer guidance on your questions on best practices/takeaways regarding COVID, your employees, and the visitors we serve.

What if one of my employees had known contact with someone (not a family member) who was COVID-19 positive, but has not come down with symptoms?

  •  CDC guidance states if you have been exposed to COVID-19, you need to quarantine 14 days from the last exposure to the positive individual. As an example, if you found out July 17 you came into contact with someone diagnosed, but your last contact with that person was July 13, you should quarantine until July 27. 

  • If you have had a known close contact, meaning that you have been with a known COVID-Positive individual within six feet for 15 minutes or greater, consider being tested 5-7 days from the last exposure to the individual.

  •  If you become symptomatic, consider being tested immediately.

  •  In addition, a negative result would not decrease the quarantine period. That’s right – you may not be totally in the clear (sorry). If the local health authority or health care provider indicates quarantine, please complete the full 14 days to help ensure we limit the spread of the virus in our community.

I see the words “quarantine” and “isolation”. Aren’t they the same thing?

  • Almost, but not quite. Quarantine is what you do if you have been exposed to COVID-19. Quarantine means you stay home and away from others for the recommended period of time in case you are infected and are contagious. Quarantine becomes isolation if you later test positive for COVID-19 or develop COVID-19 symptoms. This link from the CDC goes into more detail regarding what you should do during quarantine.

  •  Isolation is what you do if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or have tested positive for COVID-19. Isolation means you stay home and away from others (including household members) for the recommended period of time to avoid spreading illness.

I want to test all my employees, just to be on the safe side.

  •  If you wish to perform testing on your staff, Cascade Medical can accommodate you. Please call our main number at 548-5815. If you are coordinating testing for 10 or more employees, please call Samantha Jerome at 509-860-4975.

What if my employee has a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis? (Guidance courtesy WA Department of Health)

  • Notify Chelan-Douglas Health District within 24 hours if you suspect COVID-19 is spreading in your workplace, or if you are aware of 2 or more employees who develop confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within a 14-day period.

  • Cooperate with public health authorities in the investigation of cases, suspected cases, outbreaks, and suspected outbreaks of COVID-19; cooperate with the implementation of infection control measures, including but not limited to isolation and quarantine and environmental cleaning; and comply with all public health authority orders and directives.

  • Food workers and managers with coughing, shortness of breath, fever, or other symptoms of illness should not return to work until they are symptom-free. Current guidance is to stay home from 10 days of symptom onset AND 72 hours after symptoms have gone away. This may be altered by medical diagnosis, local health direction, changing community conditions, or other factors.

  • What if one of my employees has a family member at home with COVID-19?

  • There are several scenarios that determine when someone’s quarantine period would end if they are living in a household with someone who is COVID positive. In general, your quarantine begins when you can distance yourself from your family member for 14 days from last contact. Individual scenarios may vary. This link provides specific examples so you can know which one applies to you.

 Are there other sources of information that might be helpful?

Troy Campbell
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