Thankfully no, we have not been in a position to need to consider that. But it’s easy to see how cohorting those staff with COVID+ patients could be a measure of last resort.

Melanie

Melanie Swift, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Mayo Clinic Physician Health Center

Associate Medical Director, Occupational Health Service

Co-Chair, COVID Vaccine Allocation and Delivery

Division of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine

_______________________________
Mayo Clinic
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905

From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net> On Behalf Of Charles Hackett
Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2021 12:09 PM
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh@mylist.net>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [MCOH-EH] Covid +ve Employees Working

Have any of the list serve members been asked to have covid +ve employees work?

Either asymptomatic +ve or "minimally symptomatic" +ve employees work. I am not sure what minimally symptomatic means but our IC team uses that phrase.

There has been discussion within our organization due to staffing shortages especially with critical care nursing for a number of months.

The thought is to have these infected employees work with covid+ve patients.

Our EOHS team has been pushing back and we have sighted the CDC guidance that it could be considered after all else has failed to supply safe staffing levels.

Thanks

Charlie Hackett MD, MPH 

Lifespan.