Quarantine and Isolation
Any individual with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 will be advised to isolate, pursuant to CDC guidelines, and in compliance with local laws/regulations. Personnel who have had a close contact in the past seven days with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should follow CDC and local guidance for quarantine.
Confidentiality
All medical information collected from personnel, including test results and any other information obtained as a result of testing and symptom monitoring, will be treated confidentially in accordance with applicable law, and accessible only by those with a need to know in order to protect the health and safety of personnel. Agencies should identify a point of contact for all questions relating to personal medical data.
Workplace Operations
Occupancy
No Federal workplace should operate above 25% of normal occupancy standards at any given time during periods of high community prevalence or transmission. Exceptions to this policy must be cleared by the head of the agency as advised by the agency’s COVID-19 Coordination Team and in consultation with the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force. The agency’s COVID-19 Coordination Team should develop a staffing plan that outlines which employees will work on-site full-time, on-site occasionally, or fully remote.
Physical Distancing
To the extent practicable, individuals will be asked to maintain distance of at least six feet from others at all times, consistent with CDC guidelines, including in offices, conference rooms, and all other communal and work spaces. Distance and testing are not substitutes for wearing masks. Individuals should maintain distance AND properly wear masks. One-way walkways, reconfiguration of workspaces or office assignments, and other mitigation strategies may be implemented to minimize interactions.
Environmental Cleaning
Enhanced cleaning in common use/high touch/high density spaces, such as lobbies, restrooms, elevators, and stairwells will be provided. Office space that is in regular use will be cleaned regularly, and in accordance with CDC guidelines. Wipes, gloves, and other EPA-approved disinfectants will be made available for individuals to wipe down their workstation and related personal property. Physical barriers such as plexiglass shields may be installed where appropriate.
In the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace (if the individual had been in the building up to seven days prior), enhanced environmental cleaning will be performed in accordance with CDC and GSA guidance.
If such enhanced cleaning is required, wait 24 hours before cleaning or disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible. Personnel and visitors may be asked to vacate the affected space until cleaning or disinfection is completed.
