- Printable Summary Tables
Background
Employers are required to investigate and respond to any COVID-19 cases in the workplace. The following DPH guidelines are intended to support employers responding to COVID-19 cases identified in non-healthcare settings. For a summary of best practices to enhance safety in workplaces see LAC DPH Best Practices to Prevent COVID-19: Guidance for Businesses and Employers.
Expand allA COVID-19 case is a person who:
- has a positive viral test (i.e., a PCR or antigen test, including self-administered and self-read tests) for COVID-19 and/or
- has a positive COVID-19 diagnosis from a licensed healthcare provider.
- For symptomatic confirmed cases: a person is considered infectious starting 2 days before their symptoms began (symptom onset date is Day 0) until their isolation ends (i.e., through Days 6-10 after symptoms first appeared AND 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved).
- For asymptomatic confirmed cases: a person is considered infectious from 2 days before their positive viral test was taken (test collection date is Day 0) until their isolation ends (i.e., through Day 5).
Who is considered a close contact in the workplace varies based on the size of the shared indoor space:
- In indoor spaces 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor (such as home, clinic waiting room, airplane, etc.), a close contact is defined as someone sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period while the case was infectious.
- In large indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor (such as open-floor-plan offices, warehouses, large retail stores, manufacturing, or food processing facilities), a close contact is defined as someone being within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period while the case was infectious.
Spaces that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls (e.g., offices, suites, rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms, or break or eating areas that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls) must be considered distinct indoor airspaces. See, CDPH - Close Contact Q&A.
This is regardless of use of face masks by the case or contact. Exception: Cal/OSHA states that employees are not a close contact if they wore a respirator required by the employer and used in compliance with section 5144, whenever they were sharing the same airspace of the COVID-19 case while they were infectious.
Recently recovered from COVID-19 is a person who had a positive viral COVID-19 test within the past 30 days who is no longer considered infectious (i.e., their isolation period is over).
If they had symptoms with their most recent infection, the 30 days begins at the onset of the initial COVID-19 symptoms. If they never had symptoms, then the 30 days starts at the date of collection of the first positive viral COVID-19 test.
Note: Cal/OSHA Prevention regulations refers to these workers as a “returned case” and updated definition is aligned with above.
COVID-19 symptoms include fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea, unless a licensed health care professional determines the person's symptoms were caused by a known condition other than COVID-19.
In accordance with Cal/OSHA, a COVID-19 test means a test for SARS-CoV-2 that is:
- Cleared, approved, or authorized, including in an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect current infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (e.g., a viral test); and
- Administered in accordance with the authorized instructions.
Over-the-counter (OTC) self-tests: To comply with the Cal/OSHA testing requirements, an OTC COVID-19 test may be both self-administered and self-read if verification of the results, such as a time and date stamped photograph of the result or an OTC test that uses digital reporting with time and date stamped results, is provided.
end definitions -->Responding to COVID-19 in the Workplace
LAC DPH PPE & Antigen Test Kit Distribution
LAC DPH has a limited supply of adult-sized personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, available for workplace settings. DPH will prioritize sites that demonstrate an increased need. Additionally, LAC DPH has a limited supply of antigen test kits available for workplace settings. Although efforts will be made to fill all requests, availability of supplies cannot be guaranteed. The PPE Distribution program will be ending on February 28, 2025.
Employers should have procedures in place for seeking information from employees related to COVID-19 cases and close contacts in the workplace. This includes collecting and keeping records of all COVID-19 cases: the employee's name, contact information, their date of symptom onset, COVID-19 testing dates and results, last date present at workplace and their workplace locations and duties. This information must be provided to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA, immediately upon request.
Once a COVID-19 case is identified at the workplace, the employer must:
- If the individual is symptomatic, immediately exclude the case from the workplace until they meet all return to work criteria (see Exclusion Requirements and Return to Work below).
- If the case is asymptomatic, exclusion is not required. The employer must ensure the case wears a well-fitting mask while around others indoors for 10 days after becoming sick.
- Determine who may have been a close contact to the case at the workplace. This includes assessing the case’s activities and workplace locations while they were infectious.
- Inform anyone who may have had close contact with the positive cases (and their authorized representatives) in the workplace of exposure within 1 business day in a manner that does not reveal the case’s personal information. Provide instructions regarding the recommendations to mask, test, and monitor their health (see Table 2).
- Identify and correct COVID-19 hazards. See Cal/OSHA FAQs for steps to reduce future workplace exposures to COVID-19.
- Report any cluster of worksite cases within 24 hours. Report online or by phone: 1-888-397-3993. See Reporting COVID-19 Cases for more information.
Exclusion Requirements and Return to Work
The following exclusion and return to work requirements are for employees in non-healthcare settings. For printable versions of these tables, click here.
Table 1: Exclusion and Return to Work Requirements for Employees i with COVID-19
Persons with COVID-19
Exclusion Requirements
Masking Requirements
If the case is symptomatic
Employee must be excluded from the workplace until:
- The employee has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication, AND
- Other symptoms are not present, or symptoms are mild and improving.
Employee must ii wear a well-fitting mask around others through Day 10 iii whether symptomatic or asymptomatic.
- Employers must provide the masks at no expense to the employee and ensure that they are worn. See Cal/OSHA standards 3205(f)(1).
- Upon employee request, Employers must provide NIOSH-approved respirators (e.g., N95 masks) to all employees who are working indoors or in vehicles with more than one person. See Cal/OSHA FAQs for additional details.
If the case is asymptomatic
Exclusion is NOT required unless employee develops symptoms.
Employee must follow the full instructions for people with COVID-19 detailed in the LAC DPH Guidelines for COVID-19 Cases and Close Contacts.
Employer must follow all requirements outlined in the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulations.
- For symptomatic employees: Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms developed.
- For employees without symptoms: Day 1 is the first full day after the positive test was collected.
Table 2. Employees 1 that are Close Contacts [Non-Outbreak Setting 2 ]
These actions apply to all asymptomatic employees that are identified as workplace close contacts, regardless of vaccination status.
Employers should provide the masks at no expense to the employee. Note: Upon employee request, Employers must provide NIOSH-approved respirators (e.g., N95 masks) to all employees who are working indoors or in vehicles with more than one person. See Cal/OSHA FAQs for additional details.
Employee should test within 3-5 days* after their last close contact with the case unless they have recently recovered from COVID-19.
- If they test positive, they must follow the guidance in Table 1.
Employee should monitor their health for 10 days.*
If symptoms develop, exclude the employee from the workplace pending COVID-19 test results.
- If they test positive or their doctor diagnoses them with COVID-19, they must be excluded from the workplace and follow Table 1.
- If the employee tests negative and returns to work, the employee should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others indoors for 10 days following the close contact.
- Note: if symptoms persist, CDPH recommends considering continuing self-isolation and retesting in 1-2 days if testing negative with an antigen test, particularly if tested during the first 1-2 days of symptoms.
*Day 1 is the first full day after their last exposure.
1 Exposed healthcare personnel—see Asymptomatic Healthcare Personnel with Exposures.
2 These recommendations are for non-outbreak settings only. During outbreaks, additional requirements will be applicable and guided by public health investigation.Testing
Cal/OSHA states that employers must offer testing at no cost to employees during paid time:
- To employees who had a close contact at work, with an exception for symptom-free employees who recently recovered from COVID-19 (returned cases);
- During an outbreak, to all employees within an exposed group, at least once or twice per week depending on the magnitude of the outbreak, except for employees who were not at work during the relevant period and symptom-free employees who recently recovered from COVID-19 (returned cases); and
- When following CDPH and local Health Department Isolation and Quarantine Guidance to keep employees working or return them sooner, if tested.
Employers must provide testing in a manner that ensures employee confidentiality.
Testing Resources
- Employers must inform all employees on how they can obtain COVID-19 testing. This could be through the employer, local health department, the federal government, a health plan or at a community testing site.
- Cal/OSHA Test FAQs
- LAC DPH COVID-19-How to Get a Test
Additional Information
Cal/OSHA
- COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulation Webpage
- FAQs English | Español
- What Employers Need to Know English | Español
LAC DPH
- COVID-19 Community Guidelines
- Best Practices to Prevent COVID-19: Guidance for Businesses and Employers
- Protect Yourself From COVID-19 in the Workplace: Know Which Masks Provide the Best Protection: English | Español
See the LAC DPH COVID-19 website for additional resources related to COVID-19.
