Testing Not Required and Not Feasible for Return to Work

posted on Thursday, March 19, 2020 in COVID-19

Spencer Hospital’s Emergency Department and Avera Medical Group Spencer have been contacted by local citizens who state they are being required by their business to be screened for COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19) prior to being permitted to return to work following an illness. Testing of people who do not meet the Iowa Department of Public Health’s screening protocol is not necessary or feasible.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines are:

Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [38.0° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.