Responding to COVID-19 in the Workplace

As most businesses have gone back to operating as usual, California has recommendations to help keep staff and employees safe and healthy. Learn more about how to handle COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in the workplace.

As of January 1, 2023, many provisions of AB 685 described below are no longer in effect or have been amended. Employers should consult Labor Code 6409.6 and the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations to ensure that they are in compliance with current requirements regarding employee notification of COVID-19 cases in the workplace. This guidance is no longer in effect and is for historical purposes only.

• Non-Healthcare Facility Workplace Outbreaks
• Employers are not required to report workplace outbreaks to Public Health, with AB 685 no longer in effect as of January 1, 2023.
• Childcare & School settings are recommended to report to Public Health, please refer to the Childcare & School tab for more information.
• Employers must now report major outbreaks to Cal/OSHA
   
• Healthcare Facility Workplace Outbreaks 
• The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) requires reporting all COVID outbreaks by HealthCare facilities. The latest guidance including outbreak thresholds can be found here: AFL-23-09 (ca.gov)

• Congregate Care Outbreaks 
• Department of Social Service (DSS) requires licensed congregate care facilities to report outbreaks. The latest guidance can be found here:  PIN 22-04-CCLD: END OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) STATE OF EMERGENCY: RESUMING REGULAR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (ca.gov)

Please use this Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking site to report a childcare/school settings, healthcare or other congregate setting outbreak. 

Steps to Report Oubtreaks

El Dorado County now uses the Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT) to receive information about COVID-19 outbreaks. For an overview training of the SPOT reporting process, view this video.

• Step One:  Complete the application (linked below) to submit a SPOT Intake Form.
  
• SPOT Intake Form (ENGLISH)
  
• SPOT Intake Form (SPANISH)
  

• Step Two:  For all positive cases at the location, liaison will identify any individuals who were in close contact (within 6ft for over 15 minutes total in a day during the  infectious period) with the positive case(s). This information will be for internal contact tracing for the facility to identify close contacts of the COVID-19 positive cases and to isolate or quarantine healthcare residents and staff as applicable.
  
• Healthcare facilities and Workplaces are responsible for internal contact tracing and do not need to report close contact information to El Dorado County Public Health.
  

• Step Three:  Once the liaison has submitted a request, they will receive an email with SPOT log-in instructions from calconnect_donotreply@cdph.ca.gov to create an account and password. This is an automated email so it may go to Spam/Junk email folders. Liaison will need to create their account within 7 days by following the instructions in that email. El Dorado County Case Investigation office will review the form and send an additional email with the next steps for SPOT reporting. The El Dorado County Case Investigation office is open Monday – Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. The office is closed on all federal holidays. If an account request is submitted over the weekend or on a county holiday, the request will be reviewed the next workday.
  

• Step Four:  The Public Health Outbreak Response Team will send instructions in an email to the liaison. These instructions will provide access to a location-specific "Exposure Event" outbreak reporting page. The liaison will use log-in information provided by the CDPH email at the SPOT Home page to log into their account and complete all required information for positive COVID-19 cases associated with the healthcare/congregate facility through SPOT.
   
  
• Step Five:  Each additional COVID-19 case related to the same exposure should be reported through SPOT as described in steps two through four until at least 14 days have passed without any new COVID-19 positive individuals being identified and the exposure event is closed.
   
  
• Step Six:  Workers may return to work based on the latest guidance found here: Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 | CDC 

Masking Information 

• Guidance for the Use of Face Masks

Resources for Employers

• CDPH COVID Guidance on Isolation & Quarantine
• Cal OSHA Guidance for Employers
• Frequently Asked Questions Related to COVID-19
  

Resources for Healthcare Facilities/Congregate Settings

• CDC Healthcare Facility Guidance
• Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Provider Update Notices for Assisted Living/Non-Medical Congregate Settings
• CDPH Reporting Guidance for Healthcare Facilities

Contact Us

For questions or concerns about workplace infection prevention, healthcare facility concerns or reporting outbreaks, contact  COVID-19outbreak@edcgov.us