--- title: An Employee Has COVID-19, what's next? Quick 5-Step Guide description: Amid skyrocketing COVID-19 cases, business owners, facility managers, and property managers are confronted with the formidable challenge of managing employees' positive diagnoses. image: https://blog.system4ips.com/hubfs/covid-testing-at-work.jpg --- [![system4 IPS logo ](https://blog.system4ips.com/hs-fs/hubfs/s4ips%20logo.png?width=700&height=175&name=s4ips%20logo.png "system4 IPS logo ")](https://www.system4ips.com) Open main menu Close main menu [Commercial Cleaning](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/commercial-cleaning) [Best Practices](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/best-practices) [Tips & Tricks](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/tips-tricks) [Facility Services](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/facility-services) [Property Management](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/property-management) [Maintenance](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/maintenance) # An Employee Has COVID-19, what's next? Quick 5-Step Guide ![Monique Burgess](https://blog.system4ips.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Monique%20Burgess%20-%20blog%20author%20-%20avatar%20(hi-res).png?width=45&name=Monique%20Burgess%20-%20blog%20author%20-%20avatar%20(hi-res).png) [Monique Burgess](https://blog.system4ips.com/author/monique-burgess) [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://blog.system4ips.com/an-employee-has-covid-19-whats-next-quick-5-step-guide) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.system4ips.com/an-employee-has-covid-19-whats-next-quick-5-step-guide) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.system4ips.com/an-employee-has-covid-19-whats-next-quick-5-step-guide) ![](https://blog.system4ips.com/hubfs/covid-testing-at-work.jpg) With cases in the USA for COVID-19 at staggering levels, business owners, facility managers and property managers face the daunting task of handling news of an employee's positive diagnosis. It's a stressful call or email to receive as a manager. But being equipped with a straightforward game plan makes the task easier for business leaders. Fortunately, the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html) and [FDA](https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/what-do-if-you-have-covid-19-confirmed-positive-worker-or-workers-who-have-been-exposed-confirmed) continue to update their resource pages for businesses and organizations, but here's some simple, condensed guidelines and additional considerations for employers to keep in mind. ### 1. **Send the employee home to quarantine** - Instruct the staff member who tests positive to go home and self-quarantine for at least 10 days. Tell him/her to contact a health care provider.  During those 10 days, the employee is still able to spread the virus during those quarantine days, with or without symptoms. - Some states may require a longer quarantine period. If residing in a state with high rates of transmission, a more cautious approach may be necessary. - If the employee has not yet informed the state health department, offer to communicate and notify public-health officials of the diagnosis on behalf of the infected staff member. - [According to the CDC,](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html) "Employers are encouraged to implement flexible, non-punitive paid sick leave and supportive policies and practices as part of a comprehensive approach to prevent and reduce transmission among employees. Some employees may be eligible to take leave under the [Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/pandemic)or the [Families First Coronavirus Response Act](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employer-paid-leave)." ### 2. **Vacate (if possible) and Disinfect employee work area** - Closing off the employee's work area, including the zones they were in for the previous few days, is the next step. This can be a difficult or impossible task. - [The FDA suggests](https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/what-do-if-you-have-covid-19-confirmed-positive-worker-or-workers-who-have-been-exposed-confirmed) you wait 24 hours before disinfecting the area to avoid exposing other workers. Open all doors and windows to increase air circulation in the exposed area. ![office-building-cleaning-and-disinfecting (1)](https://blog.system4ips.com/hs-fs/hubfs/office-building-cleaning-and-disinfecting%20(1).jpg?width=300&name=office-building-cleaning-and-disinfecting%20(1).jpg) - If it is not possible to completely shut down that zone of your workplace, [System4 IPS](https://www.system4ips.com) can perform [immediate and lasting disinfection](https://www.system4ips.com/disinfection-and-antimicrobial-coatings), following all safety regulations, to minimize your business' downtime.  The System4 IPS process meets and exceeds the CDC guidelines. - Prior to disinfection, all surfaces must be rid of dirt and debris before application of an EPA-approved disinfectant. Proper PPE such as gloves and gowns should be worn throughout the cleaning and disinfection process. Daily disinfection should take place routinely, especially to high touch surfaces. Don't know exactly which touch-points are hotspots? Here's our free [Pandemic Disinfection Checklist](Https://www.system4ips.com/#pandemic-disinfection-checklist). ### 3. **Notify Potentially Exposed Co-Workers without sharing identity of positive case** - Retrace the employee's steps and communicate with staff who were potentially exposed. If co-workers were in contact with the infected individual a few days before positive diagnosis, they should get tested and/or self quarantine. - The CDC has determined that COVID-19 exposure risk begins when someone is[ within 6 feet of the infected person for 15 minutes or more](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/principles-contact-tracing.html). Also noting that infected people can spread the virus 48 hours before the onset of symptoms. ### 4. **Determine when employee can return, not relying on testing alone** - The CDC has advised employers not to require a negative COVID test to allow an employee back to work, but instead, to **follow these guidelines**: - *Those without symptoms* can end isolation 10 days after testing positive - *Those with moderate to mild symptoms* can end isolation after 10 days of diagnosis, if at least 24 hours have passed without a fever and other symptoms have improved - *Those with severe symptoms* may need to continue isolation for a full 20 days or longer and consult their medical care provider for further instruction ### 5. **Record work-related infections and educate staff** - If it's determined that the case was contracted on work premises, employers must record COVID-19 cases on their OSHA 300 logs, but [determining whether a case is work-related is often challenging](https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/how-can-employers-tell-if-covid-19-is-work-related.aspx). - Communicating with employees on a regular cadence regarding how to minimize transmission is important. Staying home when feeling ill, except to receive medical care, should be encouraged. Staff members should also inform management if a member of their household has fallen ill. Leverage videoconferencing and re-design the workspace to accommodate for social distancing. Keep stock filled with tissues, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes readily available to employees and encourage regular hand-washing. If you have experienced a COVID-19 singular case or outbreak amongst your staff, call [System4 IPS](http://www.system4ips.com)and schedule your disinfection service today.   ![Monique Burgess](https://blog.system4ips.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Monique%20Burgess%20-%20blog%20author%20-%20avatar%20(hi-res).png?width=150&name=Monique%20Burgess%20-%20blog%20author%20-%20avatar%20(hi-res).png) #### Monique Burgess [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniqueburgess/) Monique is a seasoned public speaker, digital marketer, serial entrepreneur and global sailor. Her marketing strategies have contributed to multiple successful startup acquisitions, exponential revenue at publicly held high tech companies, and innovative sales programs at national organizations and franchises. She, her husband and two children are avid adventurers. They have sailed more than 35,000 nautical miles over two multi-year ocean voyages, spearfishing in remote atolls of the South Pacific, hiking volcanic calderas and living 1000's of miles away from modern civilization for months at a time. ## Related Articles [![Top 20 Hotspots in Your Workplace - understand where bacteria live and statistics about surfaces in workplacee](https://blog.system4ips.com/hubfs/Nov%20Blog%20-%20Disinfect_Desk.png)](https://blog.system4ips.com/top-20-hotspots-in-your-workplace) [Disinfection](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/disinfection) [Commercial Cleaning](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/commercial-cleaning) [Best Practices](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/best-practices) ### [Top 20 Hotspots in Your Workplace](https://blog.system4ips.com/top-20-hotspots-in-your-workplace) \[updated 2022\] How long are virus and bacteria "active" on surfaces? [Where are the most likely hotspots in workplaces?](https://blog.system4ips.com/hubfs/Collateral-Material/Top%2020%20Hotspot%20Workplace%20Surfaces.pdf) Thanksgiving is upon us in the USA and the numbers... ![Monique Burgess](https://blog.system4ips.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Monique%20Burgess%20-%20blog%20author%20-%20avatar%20(hi-res).png?width=45&name=Monique%20Burgess%20-%20blog%20author%20-%20avatar%20(hi-res).png) [Monique Burgess](https://blog.system4ips.com/author/monique-burgess) [Read More](https://blog.system4ips.com/top-20-hotspots-in-your-workplace) [![Top 4 Best Practices in creating a Disinfection Plan and killing viruses - System4 IPS - RI CT MA](https://blog.system4ips.com/hubfs/Oct%20Blog%20featured%20image%20400x300.png)](https://blog.system4ips.com/4-best-practices-for-creating-a-disinfection-plan) [Disinfection](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/disinfection) [Commercial Cleaning](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/commercial-cleaning) [Best Practices](https://blog.system4ips.com/tag/best-practices) ### [4 Best Practices for Creating a Disinfection Plan](https://blog.system4ips.com/4-best-practices-for-creating-a-disinfection-plan) As the 2nd wave of coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeps across many US states, reopening and staying open is no simple task for business owners, facility managers, office... ![Monique Burgess](https://blog.system4ips.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Monique%20Burgess%20-%20blog%20author%20-%20avatar%20(hi-res).png?width=45&name=Monique%20Burgess%20-%20blog%20author%20-%20avatar%20(hi-res).png) [Monique Burgess](https://blog.system4ips.com/author/monique-burgess) [Read More](https://blog.system4ips.com/4-best-practices-for-creating-a-disinfection-plan) [![System4PS - logo - white (transparent)](https://blog.system4ips.com/hubfs/Images/logo/System4PS%20-%20logo%20-%20white%20(transparent).svg "System4PS - logo - white (transparent)")](https://www.system4ips.com/) **Rhode Island** 60 Romano Vineyard Way #110 North Kingstown , RI 02852 [(401) 615-7043](tel:(401)%20615-7043) **Connecticut** 425 Kings Highway East Fairfield CT 06825 [(860) 469-8175](tel:(860)%20469-8175) [Follow us on Facebook](https://facebook.com/System4IPS/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://twitter.com/system4ips) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.instagram.com/system4ips/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.linkedin.com/company/system4ips) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Monique Burgess", "url" : "https://blog.system4ips.com/author/monique-burgess" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-11T20:31:51.950Z", "datePublished" : "2021-01-21T17:11:13.000Z", "headline" : "An Employee Has COVID-19, what's next? Quick 5-Step Guide", "image" : [ "https://blog.system4ips.com/hubfs/covid-testing-at-work.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.system4ips.com/an-employee-has-covid-19-whats-next-quick-5-step-guide", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.system4ips.com/hubfs/s4ips%20logo.png" }, "name" : "System4 IPS" } } ```