Respiratory Illness Return-to-Work/School Guidance

Thursday, July 25, 2024

TO:              All UMMC Personnel

FROM:         Dr. Alan Jones, Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

SUBJECT:    Respiratory Illness Return-to-Work/School Guidance

The national public health emergency put in place by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services because of the impact of COVID-19 expired on May 11, 2023. However, COVID remains a contagious respiratory infection, and may be for some time, like the flu.

There has been an uptick in people experiencing respiratory illness symptoms, including some testing positive for COVID. Thankfully, in most instances, symptoms are very mild. However, this recent spread is impacting the Medical Center with several instances of employees and students sick with respiratory illness and not able to show up for work or school.

I want to clarify that there is no specific Medical Center COVID-19-related return-to-work/school policy. Instead, we follow recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC says this on a webpage last updated March 1, 2024:

The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.

Essentially, you are encouraged to follow the symptoms and take normal precautions and actions consistent with any illness. If you are too sick to come to work/school, immediately alert your supervisor/academic leader. Employees should take the required Workday steps to take leave. If your symptoms have been improving and you are free from fever without medication for 24 hours, you can return to work/school.

These recommendations are symptom dependent and do not rely on a positive test for COVID or any respiratory illness.

Respiratory viruses and illnesses can sometimes be severe and can impact anyone. Use professional judgement about when it’s best to stay home, being thoughtful about people you may be around at work/school, especially patients. Please respect any additional measures an employee/student chooses to take (e.g., mask use), which will have no impact on the school/work environment and are strictly voluntary.

This represents the most up-to-date guidance and supersedes previous guidance given.

Thank you.