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COVID-19, Returning to the Workplace – California

What is Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

How Covid-19 Spreads:

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate surfaces they touch. People who are closer than 6 feet from the infected person are most likely to get infected.

COVID-19 is spread in three main ways:

  • Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus.
  • Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze.
  • Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them.

Covid-19 Symptoms:

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  • Fever or 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
  • Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Important note: A person can be infected with COVID-19 and not have any symptoms. A person can spread the disease even if they don’t have symptoms.

What to do if you are Sick

First it is important that if you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, you do not come to work.

Follow the steps below to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community.

Stay home except to get medical care
  • Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.
  • Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better.
  • Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.
  • Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
Get tested
  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested. While waiting for test results, stay away from others, including staying apart from those living in your household.
  • Get tested as soon as possible after your symptoms start. Treatments may be available for people with COVID-19 who are at risk for becoming very sick. Don’t delay: Treatment must be started early to be effective—some treatments must begin within 5 days of your first symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider right away if your test result is positive to determine if you are eligible. 
  • Self-tests are one of several options for testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 and may be more convenient than laboratory-based tests and point-of-care tests. Ask your healthcare provider or your local health department if you need help interpreting your test results.
  • You can visit your California State ​Health Department website (www.cdph.ca.gov) to look for the latest local information on testing. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first.
Separate yourself from other people
  • As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a mask.
  • Tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect everyone.
    • See COVID-19 and Animals if you have questions about pets.
    • If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, someone from the health department may call you. Answer the call to slow the spread.
Monitor your symptoms
  • Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, or other symptoms
  • Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department. Your local health authorities may give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.
  • When to seek emergency medical attention
    • Look for the below emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical careimmediately:
      • Trouble breathing
      • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
      • New confusion
      • Inability to wake or stay awake
      • Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
      • *This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
Call ahead before visiting your doctor
  • Call ahead. Many medical visits for routine care are being postponed or done by phone or telemedicine.
  • If you have a medical appointment that cannot be postponed, call your doctor’s office, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients.
If you are sick, wear a well-fitting mask
  • You should wear a mask if you must be around other people or animals, including pets (even at home).
  • Wear a mask with the best fit, protection, and comfort for you.
  • You don’t need to wear the mask if you are alone. If you can’t put on a mask (because of trouble breathing, for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. This will help protect the people around you.
  • Masks should not be placed on young children under age 2 years, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is not able to remove the mask without help.
Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Throw away used tissues in a lined trash can.
  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Clean your hands often
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
  • Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
  • Soap and water are the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Handwashing Tips
Avoid sharing personal household items
  • Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home.
  • Wash these items thoroughly after using them with soap and water or put in the dishwasher.
Clean surfaces in your home regularly
  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces (for example, doorknobs, tables, handles, light switches, and countertops) in your “sick room” and bathroom. In shared spaces, you should clean and disinfect surfaces and items after each use by the person who is ill.
  • If you are sick and cannot clean, a caregiver or other person should only clean and disinfect the area around you (such as your bedroom and bathroom) on an as needed basis. Your caregiver/other person should wait as long as possible (at least several hours) and wear a mask before entering, cleaning, and disinfecting shared spaces that you use.
  • Clean and disinfect areas that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
  • Use household cleaners and disinfectants. Clean visible dirty surfaces with household cleaners containing soap or detergent. Then, use a household disinfectant.
    • Use a product from EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon
    • Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Many products recommend keeping the surface wet with a disinfectant for a certain period of time (look at “contact time” on the product label).
    • You may also need to wear personal protective equipment, such as gloves, depending on the directions on the product label.
    • Immediately after disinfecting, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
    • For completed guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your home, visit Complete Disinfection Guidance.
Take steps to improve ventilation at home
  • Improve ventilation (air flow) at home to help prevent from spreading COVID-19 to other people in your household.
  • Clear out COVID-19 virus particles in the air by opening windows, using air filters, and turning on fans in your home.
  • Use this interactive tool to learn how to improve air flow in your home.

Importance of getting tested if an employee has symptoms:

These are the CDC guidelines regarding testing

Considerations for who should get tested

  • People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
  • People who have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
  • People who have taken part in activities that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 because they cannot socially distance as needed, such as travel, attending large social or mass gatherings, or being in crowded indoor settings.
  • People who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, or or California State ​Health Department (www.cdph.ca.gov).

Not everyone needs to be tested. If you do get tested, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.

How to get tested for current COVID-19 infection

You can visit your California State ​Health Department website (www.cdph.ca.gov) to look for the latest local information on testing. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first.

If you are sick, wear a mask over your nose and mouth

  • You should wear a mask over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people or animals, including pets (even at home).
  • You don’t need to wear the mask if you are alone. If you can’t put on a mask (because of trouble breathing, for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. This will help protect the people around you.
  • Masks should not be placed on young children under age 2 years, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is not able to remove the mask without help.

Physical Distancing guidance:

  • The physical distancing requirements continue to be eliminated in the revised ETS except as follows:
    • During an outbreak (three or more employees in an exposed group), employers are required to evaluate whether physical distancing or barriers are necessary to control the transmission of COVID-19.
    • Physical distancing must be used in a major outbreak (20 or more employees in an exposed group) for all employees, regardless of vaccination status except when an employer demonstrates that maintaining six feet of distance is not feasible. When it is not feasible to maintain six feet of distance, persons must be as far apart as feasible.
    • Nothing in the revised ETS prevents employers from implementing additional protective measures than are required, including the use of physical distancing and barriers.
    • Employers are under an ongoing requirement to assess workplace hazards and implement controls to prevent transmission of disease. There may be circumstances in which employers determine that physical distancing is necessary in their workplace.
    • As described above, physical distancing is sometimes required, for a limited period, if fully vaccinated employees cannot be tested after a close contact.

Face Covering guidance:

  • No face covering requirements outdoors (except during outbreaks), regardless of vaccination status, though workers must be trained on CDPH recommendations for outdoor use of face coverings.
  • Fully vaccinated employees do not need to wear face coverings except for certain situations during outbreaks and in settings where CDPH requires all persons to wear them.
  • Employers must document the vaccination status of fully vaccinated employees if they do not wear face coverings indoors
  • In outbreaks, all employees must wear face coverings indoors and outdoors when six-feet physical distancing cannot be maintained, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Employers may not retaliate against employees for wearing face coverings, including when the worker is wearing a face covering voluntarily.

Key "face covering" details:

  • “Face covering” means a tightly woven fabric or non-woven material with no visible holes or openings, which covers the nose and mouth.
  • Cloth face covers are not considered protective equipment, they are not respiratory protection and do not protect the person wearing the cloth face cover from contracting COVID-19. They are meant to protect other people in case the person wearing the face cover is infected.
  • Hands should be washed and sanitized before and after using face covers.
  • Face covers should be washed after each shift.
  • The most common exceptions to wearing face coverings indoors for unvaccinated persons are: • When alone in a room or vehicle • When eating and drinking • When an accommodation is required • When job duties make a face covering infeasible or create a hazard

Respirators

An employer must provide respirators in two scenarios:

(1) to any unvaccinated employee who works with others indoors or in a vehicle and who requests one and

(2) where there is a major outbreak, to any employees in the exposed group for voluntary use.

Important notes about respirators:

  • Employers may not retaliate against employees for wearing respirators, including when the worker is wearing a respirator voluntarily.
  • The respirator must be the right size, and the employee must receive basic instruction on how to get a good “seal,” or fit.
  • A well-fitting respirator reduces the risk of infection better than physical distancing alone
  • It is important to remember that facial hair does interfere with the a good "seal" or fit of the respirator.
  • See below directions from the CDC on How to Use your N95 Respirator

See this Cal/OSHA FACT SHEET for more details about Respirators.

Hand Washing guidance:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have interacting with other people and after contacting shared surfaces or objects, been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • It’s especially important to wash:
    • Before eating or preparing food
    • Before touching your face
    • After using the restroom
    • After leaving a public place
    • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
    • After handling your mask
    • After changing a diaper
    • After caring for someone sick
    • After touching animals or pets
    • Note: Employees working in food facilities must be permitted to wash their hands every 30 minutes and additionally, as needed.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette:

Covering coughs and sneezes and keeping hands clean can help prevent the spread of serious respiratory illnesses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and COVID-19. Germs can be easily spread by:

  • Coughing, sneezing, or talking
  • Touching your face with unwashed hands after touching contaminated surfaces or objects
  • Touching surfaces or objects that may be frequently touched by other people

To help stop the spread of germs:

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
  • Throw used tissues in the trash
  • If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands

Other key items for consideration:

  • Your employer will provide you necessary training on how to safely use any cleaners and disinfectants you will be provided including:
    • The hazards of the cleaners and disinfectants being used;
    • When PPE (such as gloves) should be used; and
    • How to use the cleaners and disinfectants in a manner that does not endanger employees.
  • Your employer will provide additional specific procedures for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace.

How to Protect Yourself & Others

Get Vaccinated and stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines

Wear a mask

  • Everyone ages 2 years and older should properly wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public in areas where the COVID-19 Community Level is high, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Wear a mask with the best fit, protection, and comfort for you.
  • If you are in an area with a high COVID-19 Community Level and are ages 2 or older, wear a mask indoors in public.
  • If you are sick and need to be around others, or are caring for someone who has COVID-19, wear a mask.
  • If you are at increased risk for severe illness, or live with or spend time with someone at higher risk, speak to your healthcare provider about wearing a mask at medium COVID-19 Community Levels.
  • People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines. They should talk to their healthcare providers about what additional precautions may be necessary.
  • Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).

Stay 6 feet away from others

  • nside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick, if possible. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members. If you are taking care of someone who is sick, make sure you properly wear a well-fitting mask and follow other steps to protect yourself.
  • Indoors in public: If you are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, stay at least 6 feet away from other people, especially if you are at higher risk of getting very sick with COVID-19.

Avoid poorly ventilated spaces and crowds

Test to prevent spread to others

  • You can choose from many different types of tests.
  • Tests for SARS-CoV-2(the virus that causes COVID-19) tell you if you have an infection at the time of the test. This type of test is called a viral test because it looks for viral infection.
  • Regardless of the test type you select, a positive test result means that you have an infection and should isolate and inform your close contacts to avoid spreading disease to others.
  • Over-the-counter self-tests are viral tests that can be used at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results. Anyone can use self-tests, regardless of their vaccination status or whether they have symptoms.
  • COVID-19 self-tests are one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking, and physical distancing, that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading COVID-19.

Wash your hands often

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • It’s especially important to wash:
    • Before eating or preparing food
    • Before touching your face
    • After using the restroom
    • After leaving a public place
    • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
    • After handling your mask
    • After changing a diaper
    • After caring for someone sick
    • After touching animals or pets
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Cover coughs and sneezes

  • If you are wearing a mask: You can cough or sneeze into your mask. Put on a new, clean mask as soon as possible and wash your hands.
  • If you are not wearing a mask:
    • Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
    • Throw used tissues in the trash.
    • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect

  • Clean high touch surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
  • If someone is sick or has tested positive for COVID-19, disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

Monitor your health daily

  • Be alert for symptoms:
    • Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
    • Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
    • Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
    • Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
  • Monitoring symptoms is especially important if you are running errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.

Follow recommendations for quarantine

Follow recommendations for isolation

Take precautions when you travel 

Benefits for Workers Impacted by COVID-19

What employees are entitled to may be confusing. Below is a benefits chart that was pulled from https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/#chart

The purpose of this chart is to make it easier to understand what resources may be available.

ProgramWhyWhatBenefitsMore InformationHow to File
Disability InsuranceIf you’re unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness related to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional)Short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy.Approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50-$1,300 a week for up to 52 weeks.Learn more about your eligibility for Disability InsuranceFile a Disability Insurance claim
Paid Family LeaveIf you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional)Up to eight weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member.Approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50-$1,300 a week for up to 8 weeks.Learn more about your eligibility for Paid Family LeaveFile a Paid Family Leave claim
Unemployment InsuranceIf you have lost your job or have had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19Partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own.Range from $40-$450 per week for up to 26 weeks.Learn more about your eligibility for Unemployment InsuranceFile an Unemployment Insurance claim
California Paid Sick LeaveIf you or a family member are sick or for preventive care, including when civil authorities recommend quarantine, isolation, or stay-at-homeThe leave you have accumulated or your employer has provided to you under the Paid Sick Leave law. This may be 1 hour accrued for every 30 hours worked or 3 days/24 hours provided per year; employer may cap accrual at 48 hours and use at 3 days or 24 hours, whichever is greater, within a 12 month period.Paid to you at your regular rate of pay or an average based on the past 90 days.Learn more about your eligibility for Paid Sick LeaveIf accrued sick leave is denied, file a Wage claim
2022 California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL)If you’re unable to work or telework because you are: (1) subject to quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19; (2) advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine due to COVID-19; (3) experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; (4) attending a COVID-19 vaccine appointment; (5) experiencing COVID-19 vaccine-related side effects; (6) caring for a family member who is subject to a COVID-19 quarantine or isolation period; (7) caring for a family member who has been advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine due to COVID-19; or (8) caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed or unavailable due to COVID-19 on the premises.Up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave for employees who work for public or private employers with 26 or more employees. (40 of those hours available only when an employee, or family member for whom the employee provides care, tests positive for COVID-19.)Non-exempt employees: your regular rate of pay, the state minimum wage, or the local minimum wage, whichever is higher. Exempt employees: paid at same rate as your other leave. Maximum $511 per day and $5,110 in total.Learn more about your eligibility for COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick LeaveRequest SPSL leave from your employer or request payment for sick leave you took because of COVID-19 since 1/1/22. If your employer does not provide SPSL, you can file a wage claim
Workers’ CompensationIf you were infected with COVID-19 at work, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Your COVID-19 illness is presumed to be work-related if: 1) you reported to your employer’s worksite between March 19 and July 5, 2020; 2) you are a first responder or health care worker in contact with COVID-19 patients; or 3) you test positive for COVID-19 during a COVID-19 outbreak at your workplace.  Under SB 1159, you may receive temporary disability (TD) payments after exhausting specific federal or state COVID-19 paid sick leave benefits. You may be entitled to TD payments for up to 104 weeks. TD payments stop when either you return to work, your doctor releases you for work, or your doctor says your illness has improved as much as it’s going to.TD generally pays two-thirds of the gross wages you lose while you are recovering from a work-related illness or injury, up to maximum weekly amount set by law. In addition, eligible employees are entitled to medical treatment and additional payments if a doctor determines you suffered a permanent disability because of the illness.Learn more about your eligibility for Workers’ Compensation benefitsFile a Workers’ Compensation claim
Local Government Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19If you live or work in the city of Los Angeles, unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, Long Beach, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, San Mateo County, Sacramento, Sacramento County, Sonoma County, or Santa Rosa, you may be eligible for supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-19-related reasons if you are not covered by the FFCRA. Note that in some localities, these benefits expired on December 31, 2020. Please check your local ordinance for details.Up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave for covered employees while the local law is in effect.Varies by locality.Please visit the website of the relevant city or county for more information.Varies by locality.

SOURCES:

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/General-Industry.html
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/
https://www.dir.ca.gov/OSHSB/documents/COVID-19-Prevention-Emergency-apprvdtxt.pdf
https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/03/DFEH-Employment-Information-on-COVID-19-FAQ_ENG.pdf
https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/Jun172021-COVID-19-Prevention-Emergency-apprvdtxt-Readoption.pdf
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/Revisions-FAQ.html#distancing
https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/#chart
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