FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to tell employees if another employee has tested positive?

Yes. Employers must establish and implement a process to notify exposed employees that they had work-related contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. An exposed employee is defined as being within six feet of a confirmed COVID-19 individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or longer, regardless of whether one or both are wearing a mask. Employers must also notify affected employees (those who worked in the same facility or the same well-defined portion of the facility, such as a particular floor) that an individual present in the facility has confirmed COVID-19. These notifications should be made within 24 hrs of the employer being made aware of the positive case.

Please see page 14 in the link below for more complete guidelines on notification:

Division 1, 437-001-0744, Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks (oregon.gov)

Does my employee need a negative test to return to work after being sick?

No. Please do not require a negative test to return to work after a positive COVID test. People can continue to test positive for up to 90 days after COVID-19 infection even though they can no longer spread the disease. Employees who test positive must ISOLATE at home for a MINIMUM of 5 days, followed by 5 days of strict masking around others. People must not come out of isolation until symptoms improve and they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol.

How long should my employee who has tested positive stay home from work?

They are required to ISOLATE for a minimum of 5 days. Additionally, they must be fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours, and symptoms must improve before coming out of isolation. They can then resume work but wear a mask around all others for a further 5 days.

If my employee tests positive for COVID-19 with a home test, do they need to confirm with a PCR test?

No. It is not recommended. The employee should remain at home and follow the recommendations below for an individual with a positive COVID-19 test result.

It has been 5 days and my employee still has symptoms. Can they come back to work?

No. They must be fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours, and be significantly improved before returning to work. Symptoms of reduced taste and smell may continue for weeks and do not require the person to isolate for longer.

My employee has been traveling. Do they need a test to return to work?

No.

My employee has had contact with a positive case at home or at work….now what?

They are not required to quarantine, but they may wear a mask around others for 10 days following their exposure and may seek a test 5 days after the exposure. They should consider avoiding unnecessary visits with high-risk individuals. Following an exposure employees should watch for COVID-19-like symptoms for 10 days.

If COVID-19 symptoms develop they should stay home and get tested. If the test is positive, they should follow isolation guidance.

My employee has symptoms of a cold and has tested negative. Can they come to work?

COVID tests should be done immediately after symptoms start, regardless of vaccination status. If an employee tests negative but is sick, they may still have COVID-19. Any sick employee should stay home and return to work only once they are well.

If an employee takes a negative test but has symptoms of COVID-19, they may have tested before the virus was detectable or may have another illness, such as the flu.

Some self-tests are designed to be used in a series (also known as serial testing). Consider repeating the self-test 24 to 48 hours later. Multiple negative tests increase the confidence that the person is not infected with the virus that causes COVID-19

Who is responsible for the cost of COVID testing?

Suppose testing is conducted in the employer’s own direction (for example, requiring a test after traveling). In that case, the employer is responsible for covering the costs of testing, including but not limited to the COVID-19 test itself, employee time, and employee travel. However, if the employer is not requesting the test, the employer is not expected to cover the direct cost of such testing or any involved employee travel.