Lakeland Regional Health - Return to Work Recommendations Lakeland Regional Health - Return to Work Recommen | Page 7
TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING GUIDELINES
FOR ORGANIZATIONS
CONTACT TRACING
Contact tracing occurs when trained staff interview people who have been diagnosed
with a contagious disease to determine who they may have recently been in contact
with. The technique is a “cornerstone” of preventative medicine. If an individual in
your organization tests positive for COVID-19 identify those individuals who have been
exposed.
PRIVACY
To protect patient privacy, contacts are only informed that they may have been
exposed to a patient with the infection. They are not told the identity of the patient
who may have exposed them.
Contacts are provided with education, information, and support to understand their
risk. They need to know, what they should do to separate themselves from others who
are not exposed, how to monitor themselves for illness, and the possibility that they
could spread the infection to others even if they themselves do not feel ill.
QUARANTINE
Contacts are encouraged to stay home and maintain social distance from others (at
least 6 feet) until 14 days after their last exposure, in case they also become ill. They
should monitor themselves by checking their temperature twice daily and watching
for cough or shortness of breath. To the extent possible, public health staff should
check in with contacts to make sure they are self-monitoring and have not developed
symptoms. Contacts who develop symptoms should promptly isolate themselves and
notify public health staff so they can be evaluated for infection and for the need for
medical care.
If your organization has additional questions regarding how to handle positive cases of
COVID-19 the 24/7 hotline can be reached at 863.687.1100 extension 4695.
RESOURCE CENTER
CONTACT INFORMATION
For additional information or to request personalized assistance call
863.904.1859 or e-mail [email protected].
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