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]. 7