WHO: Office Response Procedures for Positive COVID-19 Employee

Run this checklist to prepare your workplace in the event that an employee tests positive for COVID-19.

Introduction:

Record basic details

Isolate ill person in a room/area

Limit number of people who have contact with the ill person

Contact the local health authorities

Consider how to identify persons who may be at risk

Support ill/at risk employees

Communicate with local public health authority

Promote regular teleworking across your organization

Approval: Final approval

Sources:

Related checklists:

Introduction:

This checklist template is part of our Coronavirus Workplace Processes pack.

It was built following the procedures outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

How COVID-19 spreads

COVID-19 spreads similarly to the common flu. It can be transmitted when a person who has COVID-19 coughs or exhales. This is because in doing so, they release tiny droplets of infected fluid into the air that can fall on nearby surfaces and objects (i.e. desks, tables, phones, etc.) and put people who touch these objects at risk. If a person is standing within 3 feet of a person with COVID-19, they can contract it by simply breathing in the droplets released by them through coughing.

Though many people infected with COVID-19 may experience mild symptoms and later recover, this is not the case for all people. Some go on to develop more serious illnesses and could end up needing serious hospital care. People over the age of 40 and/or have serious underlying health issues are at much higher risk of serious illness.

This checklist gives step-by-step guidance on:

Easy ways to minimize the spread of COVID-19 at your workplace
How to properly manage COVID-19 risks at work meetings/events
Important things to consider when you/your employees travel
Preparing workplace in case COVID-19 arrives in your community/work

You can edit this template with form fields and widgets to better suit your team's needs. This template makes use of Process Street features like: dynamic due dates and stop tasks to encourage team compliance and following strict deadlines.

When you're ready to put your template into action, simply run the template as a checklist.

Process Street is not a medical institution and the items contained in this process template are illustrative and not intended to be understood as medical advice. Please refer to the attached PDF document for any and all medical or operational recommendations.

Record basic details

Use the form fields below to record basic information about the positive COVID-19 employee.

Employee first name

Employee last name

Today's date

Isolate ill person in a room/area

Relocate the ill person to a room/area where they will be isolated from others in the workplace to prevent further spread of the virus.

Limit number of people who have contact with the ill person

Make effort to limit the number of people who have close contact with the sick person.

Contact the local health authorities

Immediately contact the local health authorities.

Consider how to identify persons who may be at risk

Meet with your team to assess who came into close contact with the ill person.

Meeting notes

Support ill/at risk employees

Do your best to support your ill/at risk employees, without stigma or discrimination.

This could include employees who have recently returned from another country with reported cases, or other employees who have underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of serious illness (i.e. diabetes, heart and lung disease, older age).