CDC Updates COVID-19 Return to Work Guidelines

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidelines for when employees can return to work after contracting COVID-19.

The CDC issued new guidance July 22 that employees can return to work and resume other normal activities after getting the virus provided they meet each of these criteria:

• At least 10 days have passed since they first had symptoms, or 10 days have passed since an initial positive test if they had no symptoms
• They have been fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• All other COVID-related symptoms continue to improve

The CDC said it expects to continue to update its recommendations as understanding of the virus becomes more clear.

Previously, the CDC recommended two strategies for returning to work—one based on testing, the other on allowing ample time to pass after symptoms cleared.

The agency said the new recommendations apply to individuals who had mild to normal cases of the virus.

Those with severe to critical cases may remain infectious for up to 20 days after symptoms first begin.

For more information, visit the CDC website.