Recovery | COVID-19 | Alameda County Public Health

Employees who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the workplace should immediately be separated from other people (e.g., coworkers, consumers, etc.) and sent home; employees who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 while away from the workplace should notify their supervisor and stay home.

See What to do When an Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19 for more details on what to do if an employee is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the workplace.

There is no guaranteed way to determine whether an employee has been exposed to COVID-19. If an employee was within six (6) feet of an individual confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, for a total of 15 minutes or more, this constitutes a potential exposure. Furthermore, COVID-19 can be spread via commonly touch areas, tools, and equipment, by which a shared workspace can also constitute a potential exposure.

If you or an employee has reason to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace, see COVID-19 Quarantine Instructions.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated employees who have been exposed to COVID-19 should be told to self-quarantine to monitor signs and symptoms of infection (see Alameda County Quarantine Requirements for Non-Fully Vaccinated Individuals). Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated employees who are exposed to COVID-19 should also be encouraged to get test. Please note, if an employee receives a negative test result before their quarantine period ends, the employee should continue to quarantine since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after initial exposure to the virus. For information on where to get tested, see COVID-19 Testing Locations.

Fully vaccinated employees who have been exposed to COVID-19—and remain asymptomatic—are not required to quarantine following the exposure. For more information, see Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards and CDPH Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.

Employee who was exposed to COVID-19 and is...	Quarantine Required	Quarantine Not Required
Fully Vaccinated and Asymptomatic
Fully Vaccinated and Symptomatic
Partially Vaccinated and Asymptomatic
Partially Vaccinated and Symptomatic
Unvaccinated and Asymptomatic
Unvaccinated and Symptomatic

Note: Anyone who tests positive—whether vaccinated, unvaccinated, symptomatic, or asymptomatic—is required to self-isolate for 10 days following the onset of COVID-19 symptoms or the date of a positive test result, whichever came first. For more information on isolation, see the Alameda County Isolation and Quarantine Webpage.

KEY TERMS

Exposure: the event in which someone comes within six (6) feet of an individual confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, for a total of 15 minutes or more.

Fully Vaccinated: people are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two (2) or more weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna) or two (2) or more weeks following receipt one dose of a single-dose FDA-authorized vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Partially Vaccinated: people are considered partially vaccinated against COVID-19 if 1) they have only received one dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series; 2) it has been less than two weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna); or 3) it has been less than two weeks following receipt one dose of a single-dose FDA-authorized vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Quarantine: the practice of keeping someone who has been exposed to COVID-19, through close contact with an infected individual, away from others. Quarantine allows the exposed individual to monitor for signs and symptoms or to potentially test positive during that waiting period. For more information on quarantine, see California State COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance and the Alameda County Isolation and Quarantine Webpage.

Isolation: the practice of keeping someone who is infected with COVID-19 away from others for a 10-day period to prevent spreading the virus to others. For more information on isolation, see the Alameda County Isolation and Quarantine Webpage.

Quarantine and Isolation Requirements for the Workplace

Fully vaccinated employees who have been exposed to COVID-19—and remain asymptomatic—are not required to quarantine following the exposure. For more information, see Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards and CDPH Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.

Non-fully vaccinated (i.e., partially vaccinated and unvaccinated) employees who have been exposed to COVID-19 must self-quarantine to monitor signs and symptoms of infection (see Alameda County Quarantine Requirements for Non-Fully Vaccinated Individuals). Unvaccinated employees who are exposed to COVID-19 should also be encouraged to get test. Please note, if an employee receives a negative test result before their quarantine period ends, the employee should continue to quarantine since symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after initial exposure to the virus. For information on where to get tested, see COVID-19 Testing Locations.

Below is a table that can support you to understand when an employee should and should not be excluded from work following an exposure to COVID-19.

Employee who was exposed to COVID-19 and is...	Quarantine Required	Quarantine Not Required
Fully Vaccinated and Asymptomatic
Fully Vaccinated and Symptomatic
Partially Vaccinated and Asymptomatic
Partially Vaccinated and Symptomatic
Unvaccinated and Asymptomatic
Unvaccinated and Symptomatic

KEY TERMS

Exposure: the event in which someone comes within six (6) feet of an individual confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, for a total of 15 minutes or more.

Fully Vaccinated: people are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two (2) or more weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna) or two (2) or more weeks following receipt one dose of a single-dose FDA-authorized vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Partially Vaccinated: people are considered partially vaccinated against COVID-19 if 1) they have only received one dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series; 2) it has been less than two weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna); or 3) it has been less than two weeks following receipt one dose of a single-dose FDA-authorized vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Quarantine: the practice of keeping someone who has been exposed to COVID-19, through close contact with an infected individual, away from others. Quarantine allows the exposed individual to monitor for signs and symptoms or to potentially test positive during that waiting period. For more information on quarantine, see California State COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance and the Alameda County Isolation and Quarantine Webpage.

Anyone who tests positive—whether vaccinated, unvaccinated, symptomatic, or asymptomatic—is required to self-isolate for 10 days following the onset of COVID-19 symptoms or the date of a positive test result, whichever came first.

Please note that the first day of symptoms or the test date is considered “day 0” of the isolation period.

Employee who was exposed to COVID-19 and is...	Isolation Required	Isolation Not Required
Fully Vaccinated and Asymptomatic
Fully Vaccinated and Symptomatic
Partially Vaccinated and Asymptomatic
Partially Vaccinated and Symptomatic
Unvaccinated and Asymptomatic
Unvaccinated and Symptomatic

KEY TERMS

Fully Vaccinated: people are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two (2) or more weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna) or two (2) or more weeks following receipt one dose of a single-dose FDA-authorized vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Partially Vaccinated: people are considered partially vaccinated against COVID-19 if 1) they have only received one dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series; 2) it has been less than two weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose FDA-authorized vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna); or 3) it has been less than two weeks following receipt one dose of a single-dose FDA-authorized vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Isolation: the practice of keeping someone who is infected with COVID-19 away from others for a 10-day period to prevent spreading the virus to others. For more information on isolation, see the Alameda County Isolation and Quarantine Webpage.

If you or your employee(s) feel symptoms after your vaccine, carefully read and follow this one-page guidance.

Post-Vaccine Symptoms Guidance

This guidance is for symptomatic employees/workers who have received a COVID-19 vaccine in the prior 5 days (Day 1 is day of vaccination) and have NOT had a close contact with a COVID-19+ person during the previous 14 days.

Staff who are symptomatic post-vaccine and are within 14 days of a close contact should be excluded from work and evaluated by a health care provider (HCP) for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Returning to Work After COVID-19

An employer should not require any documentation from an employee with COVID-19 to return to work (i.e., a negative test result is not required from an employee to return to work). The Alameda County Public Health Department follows CDC’s symptom-based and time-based strategies to determine when a person with COVID-19 may be released from home isolation. For additional details, see Table 1: COVID-19 Return-to-Work Criteria (below) and/or please refer to the CDC's Isolation Guidance.

Table 1. COVID-19 Return-to-Work Criteria

Symptom-Based Strategy	Time-Based Strategy
With Symptoms	Without Symptoms
Persons with COVID-19 who had symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation once the following three (3) conditions have been met: At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications along with improvement in respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset, or since symptoms initially appeared	Persons with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who have not had any symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation once the following condition has been met: At least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test, assuming they have not subsequently developed symptoms since their positive test. Note: If they have since developed symptoms, the symptom-based or test-based strategy should be used.

Symptom-Based Strategy

Time-Based Strategy

With Symptoms

Without Symptoms

Persons with COVID-19 who had symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation once the following three (3) conditions have been met:

At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
along with improvement in respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath
At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset, or since symptoms initially appeared

Persons with laboratory-confirmed
COVID-19 who have not had any symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation once the following condition has been met:

At least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test, assuming they have not subsequently developed symptoms since their positive test.

Note: If they have since developed symptoms, the symptom-based or test-based strategy should be used.

An employer should not require any documentation from an employee with COVID-19 to return to work (i.e., a negative test result is not required from an employee to return to work). The Alameda County Public Health Department follows CDC’s symptom-based and time-based strategies to determine when a person with COVID-19 may be released from home isolation. For additional details, see Table 1: COVID-19 Return-to-Work Criteria (above) and/or please refer to the CDC's Isolation Guidance.

Open Letter to Employers Regarding Clearance Testing: English | Arabic | 
Chinese (Simplified) | Chinese (Traditional) | Khmer | Korean | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese (ACPHD, 8/12/2020)

Recording and Reporting COVID-19

In accordance with Cal/OSHA, AB 685, and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reporting requirements, employers are required to report workplace-related outbreaks to their local health department. An outbreak at a non-healthcare or non-congregate setting workplace is considered 3+ cases within a 14-day period, among employees who do not live in the same household.

Note: An outbreak at a healthcare setting, including but not limited to an acute care hospital, outpatient clinic, or congregate living facilities, should visit our Healthcare Facilities webpage for more information on how to report cases.

Non-healthcare and non-residential congregate workplaces should use Alameda County’s Workplace Outbreak Guidance to investigate, report, manage, and control suspected or confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks. The Workplace Outbreak Guidance contains step by step instructions, as well as resources and links to national, state, and local guidance requirements for reopening and managing COVID-19 outbreaks.

Alameda County Workplace COVID-19 Outbreak Guidance (ACPHD, 5/11/21, English)

Non-healthcare and non-residential congregate workplaces should use Alameda County’s Workplace Outbreak Guidance to investigate, report, manage, and control suspected or confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks. The Workplace Outbreak Guidance contains step by step instructions, as well as resources and links to national, state, and local guidance requirements for reopening and managing COVID-19 outbreaks.

Alameda County Workplace COVID-19 Outbreak Guidance (ACPHD, 5/11/21, English)

Effective March 1, 2021, non-healthcare/non-congregate setting workplaces are only required to report COVID-19 outbreaks to the Alameda County Public Health Department—which is defined as 3+ cases within a 14-day period, among workers who do not live in the same household.

To report a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 outbreak in the workplace, please complete the SPOT Intake Form for Workplaces via California State's Share Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT). Once the information you enter is reviewed, you may be provided supplemental login credentials to enter additional details about persons involved in the exposure.

For additional guidance on how to report workplace-related COVID-19 cases via California State’s Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT), please see the California Public Health Department SPOT Training Video and/or SPOT User Guide.

California State’s Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking is an online platform that facilitates the collaboration and sharing of information with employers and the Alameda County Public Health Department through CalCONNECT (i.e., California’s public health contact tracing and data management system). SPOT is one of several tools that can assist workplaces in complying with state and local reporting requirements including Cal/OSHA, AB 685, and California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

For guidance on how to report workplace-related COVID-19 cases via California State’s Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT), please see the California Public Health Department SPOT Training Video and/or SPOT User Guide.

As of March 1, 2021, the process for reporting individual workplace-related COVID-19 cases to the Alameda County Public Health Department has changed. Employers will now only report workplace-related COVID-19 outbreaks via the Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT)—an online platform that facilitates collaboration and sharing of information with employers and the Alameda County Public Health Department through CalCONNECT (i.e., California’s public health contact tracing and data management system). SPOT is one of several tools that can assist workplaces in complying with state and local reporting requirements including Cal/OSHA, AB 685, and California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Reporting workplace-related COVID-19 outbreaks via SPOT is a two-step process and the report is not considered complete until both steps are fulfilled.

STEP #1: Complete the SPOT Intake Form for Workplaces

Once the SPOT Intake Form for Workplaces is submitted, the Key Point of Contact for the workplace location identified on the SPOT intake form will receive an email from SPOT. The Workplace Liaison will also receive a separate confirmation email with the Exposure Event number associated with this outbreak. Please allow up to 48 hours for this information to arrive.

STEP #2: Submit the Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT)

Once both emails including the SPOT account login information and Exposure Event number are received, the Key Point of Contact will enter the worker case and close contact information associated with this outbreak into SPOT. Please be sure to complete all requested fields in the SPOT portal to avoid delays in the reporting process.

What if additional cases are associated with this same outbreak?

If additional cases are associated with this same outbreak (e.g., more cases occur at a later date), enter the additional information directly into SPOT. Do not resubmit the SPOT Intake Form for Workplaces unless the submission is for a new outbreak or a different worksite location.

What happens after I submit an outbreak into SPOT?

Alameda County Outbreak Investigation staff may call you to obtain additional information or provide public health recommendations for managing an outbreak at your workplace.

For additional guidance on how to report workplace-related COVID-19 cases via California State’s Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT), please see the California Public Health Department SPOT Training Video and/or SPOT User Guide.

If additional cases are associated with an outbreak you already submitted via SPOT, please enter the additional information directly into SPOT. Do not resubmit the SPOT Intake Form for Workplaces unless the submission is for a new outbreak or a different worksite location.

For guidance on how to report workplace-related COVID-19 cases via California State’s Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT), please see the California Public Health Department SPOT Training Video and/or SPOT User Guide.

For guidance on how to report workplace-related COVID-19 cases via California State’s Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT), please see the California Public Health Department SPOT Training Video and/or SPOT User Guide.

California employers that are required to record work-related fatalities, injuries, and illnesses must also record work-related COVID-19 cases as they would any other occupational injury, illness, or fatality. To be recordable, a work-related injury or illness must result in one or more of the following:

Death
Days away from work
Restricted work or transfer to another job
Medical treatment beyond first aid
Loss of consciousness
A significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional

If a work-related COVID-19 case meets one or more of these criteria, then covered employers in California must record the case on their 300, 300A and 301 or equivalent forms.

See California Code of Regulations, title 8, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Article 2, Employer Records of Occupational Injury or Illness for details on which employers are obligated to report and other requirements.

Employers should report serious injury, illness, and death to the local Cal/OSHA district office immediately. This includes in-patient hospitalization and death from COVID-19 even if work-relatedness is uncertain. Cal/OSHA prefers reports by phone but will also accept email reports to CalOSHAaccidentreport@tel-us.com

Additional details on Cal/OSHA reporting, district office contact information, and Title 8 Section 342 requirement are available online.

Employers must provide a written notice to all employees who may have been in close contact with an infected employee, within 1 business day of receiving notification of potential exposure. The written notice can be hand delivered or given by email or text message and should be in both English and any other language understood by the majority of employees

In accordance with the federal HIPPA Privacy Rule, when communicating a potential exposure, employers must maintain the confidentiality of employees with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. While the aim is to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace by informing employees of potential exposures, no personally identifiable information (PII) should be shared with other employees when doing so. PII includes but is not limited to name, date of birth, address, phone number, and any other information that may deduce the identity of the infected employee.

Close contacts of cases should be given instructions on home quarantine and symptom monitoring, information regarding the closest COVID-19 testing sites. Sample language for employee-based COVID-19 exposure notification includes: “You may have been exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace. At this time, we ask that you either get tested or self-quarantine to watch for the potential onset of symptoms.

In accordance with AB 685 (Chapter 84, Statutes of 2020), upon identifying a COVID-19 case in the workplace, you need to provide the following information:

1. Notice to your employees and the employer of subcontracted workers that they may have been exposed to COVID-19: You can inform other workers of the dates that an individual with COVID-19 was at the worksite but should not share information that could identify the affected individual. You must also provide this information to the exclusive labor representative, if any.

2. Information about benefits & options: You must provide your employees with information about COVID-19 benefits under federal, state, or local laws. This includes workers' compensation, company sick leave, state-mandated leave, supplemental sick leave, negotiated leave, and anti-retaliation and anti-discrimination protections.

3. A disinfection & safety plan: You need to inform your employees and the employer of subcontracted workers of your disinfection and safety plan for the worksite, in accordance with CDC guidelines. You must also provide this information to the exclusive labor representative, if any.

COVID-19 Testing

No, not necessarily. Employees may have been exposed to COVID-19 if they were in “close contact” with an infected individual, which is defined as being within six (6) feet of an infected individual for 15 minutes or more. Employees without close contact with the person who is sick can return to work immediately after cleaning and disinfection of affected workplace areas.

No. The Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) follows CDC’s symptom-based and time-based strategies to determine when a person with COVID-19 may be released from home isolation; the ACPHD does not require or encourage the requirement of a negative test result—or any other additional clearance measures—for an employee to return to work. For more information, please refer to the CDC's Isolation Guidance.

Please note, however, health care personnel and staff at Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs), Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE) and other residential sites, will have additional restrictions when returning to work after having COVID-19. See CDC guidance for health care personnel return-to-work criteria.

A viral test (nose or throat swab), which checks for current infection, is recommended to determine if a person can actively transmit COVID-19 to others. Conversely, an antibody test (blood sample), which checks for past infection, is not recommended to determine an employee’s current COIVD-19 status.

For a list of COVID-19 testing sites within Alameda County, please visit the Alameda County Public Health Department Testing for COVID-19 webpage.

If your employee is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, thinks they were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, or the test is otherwise medically necessary for their situation, under federal law, they can obtain a COVID-19 test anywhere and their health plan must pay for the test.

If the employee is an essential worker, does not have symptoms, and does not think they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, they must contact their health plan before getting tested. The health plan must cover the test but will first need to help the employee get an appointment with a testing provider.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Close off all areas used by the employee who is sick. Wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting to minimize potential for exposure to respiratory droplets— if 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible. Follow CDC guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection for the Workplace. Operations can resume as soon as cleaning and disinfection are completed.

Clean and disinfect all areas potentially used by the sick employee including their workspace, bathrooms, common areas, doorknobs, and shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and ATM machines.

In most cases, it is not necessary to shut down your facility. If it is feasible to close off affected areas, the cleaning and disinfection of these areas should occur based on CDC guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection for the Workplace. Once areas have been appropriately disinfected, they can be reopened for use.

Preventing COVID-19 in the Workplace

Employers should continue to reiterate the following COVID-19 prevention messages to employees:

If you are sick, do not come to work.
Remain 6 feet apart from one another, whenever feasible.
Wear a face covering whenever in the same area as others.
Wash hands frequently, with soap and water (or use hand sanitizer with 60%+ alcohol).
Do not touch eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Disinfect commonly touched areas, daily.

Furthermore, Cal/OSHA has developed guidance on the steps every employer should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Cal/OSHA recommends employers review the guidance relevant to their industry, worksites, county variance guidance and criteria, as well as the guidance on Cal/OSHA safety requirements and existing procedures to ensure the workplace is protected from the spread of COVID-19. See Cal/OSHA Industry Guidance on COVID-19 for industry-specific information on protecting employee’s from COVID-19.

Download a printable version of the Mask Required for Entry Poster, 04/01/2021: English (Other Languages Coming Soon)

Employers should require that all personnel (e.g., employees, contractors, volunteers, etc.) to conduct a self-assessment of symptoms and possible exposure to COVID-19 before the start of each shift.

In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following strategies should be executed by employers to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace:

Pre-Screening
Ask employees to self-assess their temperature and symptoms prior to the start of each work shift. Ideally, temperature checks should happen before the individual enters the facility.

Regular Monitoring
Employees without symptoms of COVID-19 should self-monitor under the supervision of their employer’s occupational health program.

Face Covering Requirement
Employees should wear face coverings whenever in the same area as others in the workplace. Employers can issue facemasks or can approve employees’ supplied cloth face coverings in the event of shortages.

Social Distancing Requirement
Whenever possible, employees should maintain a six-foot distance from others and practice social distancing, as work duties permit, in the workplace.

Daily Cleaning and Disinfecting
Clean and disinfect all areas such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment routinely, daily.

Download a printable version of the Mask Required for Entry Poster, 04/01/2021: English (Other Languages Coming Soon)

Employers who operate non-healthcare businesses should follow the Alameda County General Business Ventilation Guidance to reduce possible airborne exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 in rooms and buildings. This guidance should be used for determining the most effective combination of methods for increasing indoor ventilation and air filtration.