The CDC released new guidance on April 8, 2020 regarding safety practices for critical infrastructure workers who may have had exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Unlike the old guidance which suggested that workers stay home for 14 days if they have been exposed to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, the new guidance suggests temperature checks prior to the employee entering the workplace, self-monitoring, wearing a facemask or employer approved cloth face coverings for 14 days after exposure, 6 feet social distancing, and frequent disinfecting of work spaces. If a critical infrastructure worker becomes sick with COVID-19 symptoms, they should immediately leave the workspace and exposed workers should follow the exposure protocol described above.
The CDC defines critical infrastructure workers as the following:
- Federal, state, & local law enforcement
- 911 call center employees
- Fusion Center employees
- Hazardous material responders from government and the private sector
- Janitorial staff and other custodial staff
- Workers – including contracted vendors – in food and agriculture, critical manufacturing, informational technology, transportation, energy and government facilities