Workplace guidance has been issued by Territorial Medical Director Dr. Tai Hunte-Ceasar as the territory transitions to endemicity with COVID-19 disease.
Endemicity means there may always be some level of COVID-19 circulating within the community, according to a press release announcing the guidance. The department is now aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for precautionary recommendations for isolation and quarantine after COVID-19 infection or exposure, it said.
The following recommendations should be followed by your organization and used as guidance for your employees, the release stated. These recommendations include:
Isolation / Positive Cases
- If found COVID-19 positive by a viral test you must isolate despite your vaccination status. Day zero of isolation is the date of the positive test.
- Home tests should be confirmed by a second test collected at the department or a private laboratory.
- Further, everyone with a positive test result is to isolate for at least five full days and remain isolated until you are feeling better and symptoms are improving. If you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, you may end isolation as soon as six days after your positive viral test.
- Take precautions for a complete 10 days and wear a mask during the entire 10 days, especially if you are around someone who is immunocompromised.
The department stressed that you do not have to repeat a test after ending isolation and this should not be a requirement to return to work.
Quarantining/Close Contacts
Quarantining is for anyone exposed to a positive COVID-19 case and it has three distinct categories:
- If you are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines:
• Quarantine (stay home and away from others) for five days,
• Wear a mask at home around others,
• Watch for symptoms for 10 days, and
• Everyone in this group should get tested at least five days from their exposure even if symptoms do not develop.
• Wear a mask for the entire 10 days regardless of the presence of symptoms. - If you are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines (meaning that you have been vaccinated and boosted when eligible):
• No quarantine is needed unless symptoms exist or develop.
• Watch for symptoms for 10 days, and
• Everyone in this group should get tested at least five days from their exposure even if symptoms do not develop.
• Wear a mask for the entire 10 days regardless of the presence of symptoms. - If you had a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the past 90 days:
• No quarantine is needed unless symptoms exist or develop.
• Watch for symptoms for 10 days, and
• Get tested if symptoms develop.
• Wear a mask for the entire 10 days regardless of the presence of symptoms.
Additional Actions
Please take the following steps in your departments:
- No organization should be requiring a test to return to work.
- The above guidance should be followed instead of necessitating a quarantine lift letter.
- Routine closure or shutdowns of offices are not recommended because of positive employees.
- Maintain environmental cleaning, especially in areas of shared or communal items.
The department is phasing out the practice of quarantine lift letters and will no longer be providing letters routinely, the release stated. This guidance should be utilized as an alternative. The department is always available for assistance and questions and looks forward to continued partnerships to ensure the health of all Virgin Island employees. Businesses are encouraged to reference the CDC COVID-19 website for resources on workplace environmental safety specifically relating to their setting.
FAQ:
1. How can I schedule a test?
Tests may be scheduled through this link: https://www.covid19.usvi.care/testing or by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 340-712-6299 or 340-776-1519.
You must quarantine while awaiting results. Even if the test results are negative for COVID-19, you should remain in quarantine until symptoms are resolved.
2. Who is up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations?
Link: CDC: Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines
You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and one booster when eligible.
Getting a second booster is not necessary to be considered up to date at this time.
The recommendations will be different depending on your age, your health status, what vaccine you first received, and when you first got vaccinated.
