While contact tracing and risk assessment, with appropriate implementation of HCP work restrictions, of potentially exposed HCP remains the recommended strategy for identifying and reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to HCP, patients, and others, it is not practical or achievable in all situations. 

 

Community transmission of COVID-19 in the United States has been reported in multiple areas. This development means some recommended actions (e.g., contact tracing and risk assessment of all potentially exposed HCP) are impractical for implementation by healthcare facilities. 

 

In the setting of community transmission, all HCP are at some risk for exposure to COVID-19, whether in the workplace or in the community.  Devoting resources to contact tracing and retrospective risk assessment could divert resources from other important infection prevention and control activities. 

 

Facilities should shift emphasis to more routine practices, which include asking HCP to report recognized exposures, regularly monitor themselves for fever and symptoms of respiratory infection and not report to work when ill.  Facilities should develop a plan for how they will screen for symptoms and evaluate ill HCP.  This could include having HCP report absence of fever and symptoms prior to starting work each day.”