Updated: June 3, 2022

Based on recent Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) guidance, the City has issued updated guidance about when employees can return to the workplace following symptoms consistent with COVID-19, a positive COVID-19 test result, or a confirmed close contact. Please reference the updated guidelines titled “6.02.22 Update to Return to Work Guidelines” This document will also be accessible on the Beacon portal.

We have also created two new guides to remind employees about how they can return to work following exposure to, symptoms of, or a positive test result confirming COVID-19; one for fully vaccinated employees, and one for not fully vaccinated employees. These guides present the same information from the Return to Work Guidelines in a simplified format to help employees understand the framework that public health nurses are using to evaluate and advise employees on their return to work. 

 Please remember: if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, are in close contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19, or you test positive for COVID-19, you must contact your HR Director or Personnel Officer immediately. They will submit the details of your case to the City’s public health nursing team for guidance on whether you need to remain out of work, and when you are able to return to the workplace. They will also assist with close contact notification, and notification of other colleagues in the same shared workspace. We appreciate your continued cooperation in this process, and our shared commitment to following the procedures in place to keep our colleagues healthy and our workplaces safe.

Falsification of documentation shall be grounds for discipline, up to and including
termination.

These modifications are temporary in nature and will remain in force and effect until the
City deems them no longer necessary or further updates are required. If you have
questions, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

FOR ALL EMPLOYEES EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH COVID-19
Both fully vaccinated employees and not fully vaccinated employees experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19:

• Are not allowed in the workplace and should be sent home immediately.
• Must get tested and remain out of work until a result is received.
• If a PCR test is negative they should remain out of work until they are free of fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours.
• If a rapid antigen test is negative they should remain out of work until they repeat a rapid antigen test in 48 hours and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours.
• If any of these tests are positive they must follow the Return to Work guidelines in Section 2 below.

Before returning to work:
Employees must fill out the Employee Certification of Return to Work Following COVID-19 Testing or Symptoms form and submit it to their department’s HR manager(s).(found below)

FOR FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Fully vaccinated employees can return to work 5 days after their positive test only when they:
● Produce a negative rapid antigen test taken on or after day 5;
● Have been without fever for 24 hours;
● And have experienced improvement in other symptoms.

If a fully vaccinated employee is unable to produce a negative antigen test, they can return to work 10 days after their initial positive test result, on Day 11.

Before returning to work:
● Employees must fill out the Employee Certification of Return to Work Following COVID-19 Testing or Symptoms and submit it to their department’s HR manager(s) .

Following the 5-day isolation period:
● Fully vaccinated employees must consistently wear a well-fitting mask for 5 additional days when around others.

FOR NOT FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Not fully vaccinated employees can return to work 7 days after their positive test only when they:

• Produce a negative rapid antigen test taken on or after day 7;
• Have been without fever for 24 hours;
• And have experienced improvement in other symptoms.

If a not fully vaccinated employee is unable to produce a negative antigen test, they can return to work 10 days after their initial positive test result, on Day 11.

Before returning to work:
● All employees must fill out the Employee Certification of Return to Work Following COVID-19 Testing or Symptoms and submit it to their department’s HR manager(s).

Following the 7-day isolation period:
● Not fully vaccinated employees must consistently wear a well-fitting mask for 3 additional days when around others.

FOR FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE A CLOSE CONTACT OF SOMEONE THAT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Note: Departmental HR will consult with the employee and the Boston Public Health Commission to determine if an employee meets the definition of a close contact.

Fully vaccinated employees with no COVID-19-like symptoms do not need to quarantine following an exposure to an individual with COVID-19, according to the CDC.

• Fully vaccinated employees should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of their last exposure.
• Fully vaccinated employees are encouraged to get tested at least 5 days after exposure.
• If they experience symptoms, the employee should follow the protocol outlined in Section 1 above.

FOR NOT FULLY VACCINATED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE A CLOSE CONTACT OF SOMEONE THAT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Note: Departmental HR will consult with the employee and the Boston Public Health Commission to determine if an employee meets the definition of a close contact.

Not fully vaccinated employees who are identified as a close contact of an individual with COVID-19 can return to the workplace only when they:

• Have quarantined for at least 5 days* from the last date of close contact, and
• Can produce a negative rapid test on or after day 5 of their quarantine period.

If an employee does not obtain a test following exposure:

• Not fully vaccinated employees must quarantine for 10 days from the last date of close contact and return to work on Day 11.
• Employees should wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days from the date of their last exposure.

*Household contacts:

• If the not fully vaccinated employee is unable to reliably isolate from members of their household who test positive for COVID-19, they must quarantine for at least 5 days from when their household member is cleared to end isolation, if they are able to produce a negative rapid test on or after day 5 after their household member exits isolation.
• If they do not obtain a test following exposure, not fully vaccinated employees must quarantine for 10 days after their household member exits isolation and return to work on Day 11.

Before returning to work:
All employees must fill out the Employee Certification of Return to Work Following  COVID-19 Testing or Symptoms and submit it to their department’s HR manager(s).

Following the 7-day isolation period:

• Employees should monitor themselves for symptoms
• Not fully vaccinated employees must consistently wear a well-fitting mask for 3 additional days when around others.

TERMS TO KNOW

1. Fully vaccinated: Individuals are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen).
2. Not fully vaccinated: For the purposes of this guidance, “not fully vaccinated employees” are those who do not meet the definition of “fully vaccinated” above.
3. Close contact: The definition of a close contact is coming within 6 feet of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 for 10-15 minutes or longer over the course of a 24-hour  period, regardless of whether masks were worn, in the 2 days prior to the administration of the positive test or onset of symptoms, whichever came first. Departmental HR will consult with the employee and the Boston Public Health Commission to determine if an employee meets the definition of a close contact using this definition while taking into account the unique circumstances of each case.
4. PCR Test: The PCR test takes a sample of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and “amplifies” it with the help of lab technologies. PCR tests must be done by a health care provider, and they don’t produce immediate results, which means you may be waiting a few days to know if you’re positive or negative.
5. Rapid Antigen Test: The rapid test, called an antigen test, checks for proteins that are found on the outside of the virus. When you take or give your nasal swab sample, it’s put into a liquid and then onto a test strip. Results are typically available after approximately 15 minutes or so.