COVID-19 and your staff

As we all know, COVID-19 is on the rise again across the province and we’ve received many questions at the College about how to handle specific situations with staff being exposed outside of work, staff not feeling well or when should a staff member get tested. Dacia and Lloyd have reached out and connected with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services and clarified the process if a staff member is a secondary contact to a potential COVID-19 case.

SECONDARY CONTACT – POTENTIAL COVID-19 EXPOSURE
If you (or a staff member) is a secondary contact to a potential COVID-19 case, you are not considered to be at risk and no precautions are required. If the person that was the secondary contact tests positive, their contacts will be contacted by Public Health to get tested and self-isolate. If a person contacted in either case was a healthcare worker, AHS Public Health will review the situation with them directly to determine if they have followed their College’s guidelines and be ruled out as a primary contact. If ruled out and cleared – no further requirements are required.

STAFF MEMBER SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS
It is important to remember that if you or any staff member has any of these symptoms, you are

• LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ISOLATE FOR AT LEAST 10 DAYS from the start of your symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, and
• encouraged to get tested (keeping in mind a negative test does not clear you to return to work as you could still develop symptoms after – so you need to self isolate for at least 10 days or until your symptoms resolve – whichever is longer):
  • Fever
  • Cough (new cough or worsening chronic cough)
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (new or worsening)
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat

It is important to remember that even if you or a staff member claims the runny nose or sore throat is from allergies – you need to stay home. Alberta Health Services and Alberta Health has not made any exceptions from the legal requirement to isolate based on allergies – if symptoms are present – you legally must isolate.

If anyone has any of these other symptoms, they must stay home and minimize contact with others until their symptoms resolve:

• Chills
• Painful swallowing
• Stuffy nose
• Headache
• Muscle or joint aches
• Feeling unwell, fatigue or severe exhaustion
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or unexplained loss of appetite)
• Loss of sense of smell or taste
• Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye

Remember to monitor your health and call Health Link at 811 if you have questions or concerns.

Please keep in mind that you or your staff can be held legally liable if you do not isolate when you should if ANY symptoms, in any capacity, are present. Additionally – failure to follow any Public Health direction could result in professional conduct concerns filed with the College for investigation and action.