Cook Children’s Changes Return To Work Policy For Those Infected With The COVID-19 Virus

This communication overrides recent information regarding employees returning to work.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance closely. With the recent surge in omicron cases in our area and throughout our system, we are updating our return to work policy for employees infected with the COVID-19 virus.

The following changes are based on new scientific information from the CDC that “the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others.”

If You Test Positive for COVID-19 (Regardless of vaccination status):

• Stay home for five days.
• If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are getting better after five days, you may return to work with or without a negative test.
• If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever stops for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.
• Continue to wear a well-fitting mask at all times for five additional days. If you are a health care personnel who has been fitted for an N-95 mask, we ask that you wear that mask upon your return from infection (for at least the next five days).
• Please do not eat or drink around others for five days after your return if at all possible. Please wear your well-fitted mask at all times, practice social distancing and frequently wash your hands.

For employees who have been exposed to the virus:

If you are fully vaccinated and/or received booster:  Please continue to come to work and you do not have to report the exposure. 

If you are not vaccinated: You must stay home for 10 days. We ask that you report your exposure to the COVID-19 center by either calling 682-303-1661 or sending an email to 682-303-5033. Please provide your name, email and a good phone number to reach you.