21.04.04 CDC Announcement - new requirements.pdf

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COVID-19 Operational Updates Effective Today: New Mask Requirements, Self-Quarantine Requirements Following Any Travel Office of the Director, OSSAM

Updated: March 4, 2021

Masking Per CDC policy , masks must be worn in any common areas or shared workspaces (including open floorplan office space, cubicle embankments, and conference rooms). Masks must also be worn in outdoor shared spaces when physical distancing of at least 6 feet cannot be maintained. The only exception to this guidance is for individuals alone in an office with floor to ceiling walls and a closed door or for a limited time when eating or drinking and maintaining distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines. Individuals may be asked to lower their masks briefly for identification purposes in compliance with safety and security requirements.

Laboratory personnel must refer to additional information from the Office of Laboratory Science and Safety on the use of masks in laboratory settings, which is available at: COVID-19 Information for Laboratories (cdc.gov).

Testing Prior to Official Travel For the purposes of this guidance, travel is defined as any trip that is overnight ANDANDANDAND on public transportation (plane, train, bus, Uber, Lyft, cab, etc.) OR OR OR OR any trip that is overnight and with people who are not in your household.

CDC staff are now required to complete a COVID-19 test 1-3 days prior to official travel. In Atlanta, OSSAM can provide this testing Monday through Friday between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm with results provided the next day. Appointments can be made by calling the CDC Occupational Health Clinic (OHC) at 404-639-3385. For non-Atlanta staff, if you are unable to obtain a test and results within 1-3 days of your official travel, please work with your CIO Management Officer (non-response personnel) or the IMS Chief of Staff (response personnel) to obtain a waiver from the Occupational Health Clinic.

The OHC will not respond to requests directly from individuals.

Staff being tested for COVID-19 for pre-travel purposes are not restricted from accessing CDC facilities while awaiting their

Effective immediately, all CDC staff must wear masks unless in an enclosed office with the door closed or outdoors

AND able to maintain physical distancing. Additionally, all CDC staff must complete a viral COVID-19 test before official travel; and all CDC staff who have completed ANY travel must refrain from accessing the workplace.

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test results provided, they do not have other identified risk factors (e.g., remain asymptomatic, have no close contacts).

If you are unable to obtain a COVID-19 test because it doesn’t align with the timeline to execute a critical mission, the CIO

Management Officer or IMS Chief of Staff may request a waiver from the OHC.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days, please contact the OHC to discuss pre-travel requirements.

Quarantine Following Any Travel For the purposes of this guidance, travel is defined as any trip that is overnight ANDANDANDAND on public transportation (plane, train, bus, Uber, Lyft, cab, etc.) OR OR OR OR any trip that is overnight and with people who are not in your household.

CDC staff are not permitted to access any CDC facility after personal or official travel, during the recommended post travel self-quarantine period to reduce exposure risk to coworkers, per CDC guidance. The length of the post-travel quarantine period must align with CDC guidance on travel.

If eligible, CDC employees will be allowed to telework while quarantining. If not eligible to telework, CDC employees should request and receive supervisory approval for appropriate leave during the quarantine period. For those completing official travel, if the employee is not telework eligible, the supervisor and Management Officer should coordinate with the Human

Resources Office to utilize appropriate administrative leave. Contractors should consult with their management for post-travel telework and leave eligibility.

Fully vaccinated individuals or individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days (and have completed their self-isolation) with a need to access a CDC facility may contact their CIO Management Officer (non-response personnel) or the IMS Chief of Staff (response personnel) who can request a waiver from the OHC. Waivers will only be granted in exigent circumstances and only if it is safe to do so. OHC will not respond to requests made by individuals.

Requests for a waiver will be considered for these individuals that have been identified by their CIO Management Officer or IMS Chief of Staff as an individual who requires access to a CDC facility for mission critical work.

The CDC OHC may review and issue other exceptions/waivers if a CDC staff member is required to return to the workplace or travel before the quarantine period ends. As a reminder, all staff and visitors must continue to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before entering CDC facilities, which will include a question on recent travel within the last ten days beginning

March 1st.

Failure to answer screening questions truthfully may result in disciplinary action.

For more information on COVID-19 and the workplace, please visit CDC’s Return to the Workplace webpage. OSSAM is updating Frequently Asked Questions to help you navigate this updated guidance. Please submit any new questions to

OSSAM.

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Office of Safety, Security, and Asset Management

Page last reviewed: March 4, 2021

Content source: CDC Today

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