HR Newsletters 2021

MITIGATING AND PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID - 19 IN THE WORKPLACE Kell Smith

The Delta variant is sweeping the country. As COVID-19 illness rates increase, MCCB is working to mitigate spread in the workplace.

M CCB’s pandemic policy requires employees to wear their mask when away from their individual offices. Additionally, MCCB strongly encourages our employees to get vaccinated, as that is the best way to protect yourself and those around you. Vaccina- tions along with wearing masks in indoor public settings (per the Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH) and the Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations) reduces risk to you and those around you. In recent weeks, an increasing number of MCCB employees have come in close contact to people with both known or unknown cases of COVID. This trend will likely increase as school begins. As such, please see below for additional information.

Definition of close contact:

Close contact is defined as exposure to people with known or suspected COVID cases, which is defined as being within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more.

Close contact is exposure to:

Person with COVID who has symptoms (in the period from 2 days before symptom onset until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation; can be laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness). Person who has tested positive for COVID (laboratory confirmed) but has not had any symptoms (in the 2 days before the date of specimen collection until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation).

MCCB will follow the below regarding close contact protocol based on guidance from the MSDH and the CDC regarding COVID ex- posure.

Guidance for previously vaccinated employees :

If you have been fully vaccinated for COVID, you are allowed to return to work if you meet the following criteria:

 You are fully vaccinated, and it has been 2 or more weeks since your final dose in the vaccine series; and

 You have been asymptomatic since your COVID exposure; and

 You received a negative test 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms.

In addition to your healthcare provider, the Mississippi Department of Health offers free COVID testing. Locations, scheduling, and other pertinent information can be found here: https://www.msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,22406,420,874.html.

Quarantine Guidance for unvaccinated employees:

 If you test positive, you need to self-quarantine at home (or an appropriate alternative location) for 14 days from your last ex- posure and self-monitor for symptoms.

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