Exposure

When does contact tracing begin?

The Health Department will begin contact tracing within the next 24-48 hours and will contact you directly if they feel that you might have been exposed.

When does contact tracing begin?

The Health Department will begin contact tracing within the next 24-48 hours and will contact you directly if they feel that you might have been exposed.

The person who tested positive works remotely and has not been on Grounds. Do I need to send a co-worker notification?

No.  If the faculty or staff member has been working remotely and not been on Grounds, a co-worker notification is not necessary.

I have a pretty good idea who the person who tested positive works with and is in contact with the most. Can I send the co-worker notification to them only?

As a manager or supervisor, you are likely in the best position to have a sense of who was and was not in close physical contact with an employee who tests positive.  While we recommend erring on the side of caution and including the employee(s) in the distribution of the message, if you have a clearer sense of those who need to receive a notification, you are welcome to send the co-worker notification to a more localized group of individuals.

I was told by faculty or staff member that they received a positive result, but I have not heard from Employee Health. Should I send a co-worker notification?

To avoid the risk of sharing inaccurate information, we recommend waiting for the official secure email notification from Employee Health before sending a co-worker notification.  If you have not received the secure email notification, please check your spam folder or contact Employee Health.

I don’t know how has been in contact with the person who tested positive. Should I gather that information from the faculty or staff member?

Managers and supervisors should not contact individuals to determine whether they came in contact with someone with a positive diagnose.  And in all cases, managers must maintain the confidentiality of the identity of the infected individual. “Co-worker notification” is not the same as contact tracing. The Virginia Department of Public Health is responsible for contact tracing, which involves connecting with individuals who may have come in close contact with a confirmed positive case. Co-worker notification operates very differently.

Who should receive the “co-worker” notification email?

Co-worker notification is required by law not only to provide information to individuals in the workplace of a positive case, but also to provide transparency and to allow for appropriate action that may be required. 

What should I do if a faculty or staff member (regardless of work location) is symptomatic, or they have contracted or been exposed to COVID-19?
  • Ask the employee to immediately begin (or continue) working remotely if they are able to do so. If unable to due to symptoms or the nature of their work, they are placed on paid leave.
  • Direct the employee to call Employee Health for assessment, instructions and to confirm diagnosis.
  • Employee Health will refer the employee for testing and/or instructions to self-isolate.
What should I do if I feel sick or have to quarantine?
  • If at any point you begin to feel ill, please call Employee Health [434-924-2013] immediately. If you are home, do not come on Grounds; if you are on Grounds, please return home.
What should I do if student is sick?

If a student tells you that they are feeling ill:

Please ask them to stay home and contact Student Health, [434-924-5362; 434-297-4261 After Hours]. If they hesitate, kindly remind than that they agreed to do so in the social contract that they signed.

If a student tells you that they have to quarantine:

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