Baby, it’s COVID outside: how to return to work safely after the holidays

It’s the holiday season, when the kids arrive home from college, the Griswolds take vacation, and Santa Claus comes to town. But for many, the most wonderful time of the year has become a cause for concern. With COVID-19 cases on the rise and family gatherings inevitable, you may be worried the virus will spread in your workplace faster than holiday cheer. Don’t have a blue Christmas. Instead, plan now to keep your workplace safe by revisiting your coronavirus policies.

Review updated CDC guidelines

As the medical community learns more about COVID-19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to update its guidance. For example, the CDC recently expanded its definition of “close contact” to include more brief encounters. Before, “close contact” was defined as being within six feet of a confirmed positive coronavirus case for 15 consecutive minutes or more. Now, it’s being defined as being within six feet of a confirmed positive case for a total of 15 minutes.

The CDC also shortened the recommended length of quarantine time after exposure. Until recently, the agency advised individuals in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case to quarantine for 14 days. Though 14 days is still the gold standard, the agency now says individuals who don’t develop symptoms may end their quarantine after just 10 days, or even seven days if they test negative.