We remind you of the tips for monitoring the Covid-19 in companies. In case of any suspicious or confirmed case by COVID-19, in view of the outbreaks we are suffering at national level.
The Ministry of Health has updated, on August 11, the “Strategy for early detection, surveillance and control of COVID-19” of July 9. In accordance with this and other regulations that have been disseminated to this effect both nationally and regionally, all companies and aspects of their workplaces must have their SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) contingency protocol implemented, drawn up, updated and supervised by the corresponding prevention service.
We remind below the main advice to follow.
Tips for monitoring the Covid-19 in companies
What to do when faced with a suspicious case?
In the event of a suspicious case (with symptoms compatible with COVID-19) or a person who is considered to be “in close contact” with a confirmed case, you should inform the company and refer them to your primary care physician. The working person will not be allowed to come or stay at the workplace.
If the public health service considers it appropriate, it will proceed to identify and control their close contacts, recommending all of them to avoid leaving their homes, and they will all be subjected to the corresponding PCR test.
What is considered close contact?
People who have provided care to a case:
- Healthcare personnel or social workers who have not used adequate protection measures
- family members or persons who have other similar physical contact.
Any person who has been in the same place as a confirmed case, less than 2 m away and for more than 15 minutes. For example, colleagues, visitors, etc.
Any close contact in a long-haul mode of transport (and where possible access to passenger identification) to any person within a two-seat radius of a case and the crew or equivalent personnel who have had contact with that case.
What should we do if we have a confirmed case in the company?
On behalf of the company
In the event of a confirmed case in the company (positive detection analysis), you must contact your prevention service and activate the corresponding action protocol.
- Any person who has been in the same place as a confirmed case, at a distance of less than 2 metres (e.g. colleagues, visitors…) and for more than 15 minutes, must be identified.
- The period to be considered for observation and close contact control will be from 2 days before the onset of symptoms of the case until the time when the case is isolated. In asymptomatic cases confirmed by PCR, contacts will be sought from 2 days before the date of diagnosis.
Together with the occupational risk prevention service.
Based on the study of identification of the people with “close contact” regarding the confirmed case, notification will be provided to the effect, so that they can be treated by their primary care physician, who will proceed to perform the corresponding PCR test and follow up on their personal situation during the isolation or quarantine process that will be established for this purpose.
- Persons who have already had a PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the previous 6 months will be exempt from quarantine.
- The working person affected by a positive COVID-19 process will be in “sick leave” status (assimilated to professional contingency). Your primary care physician will be the one to issue your sick leave, confirmation and discharge reports.
- In the case of an asymptomatic worker and during the period of “quarantine” set by your doctor, you will proceed to issue “sick leave” (assimilated to professional contingency). When it entails the impossibility of continuing with his work activity, because it is not possible to telework.
In any case, the guidelines and indications established by the public health services must be followed. Any employee affected by a COVID-19 process, whether confirmed or in a quarantine situation, may not return to work at the workplace until he or she has the corresponding illness discharge report or certificate issued by his or her primary care physician.
What other measures should the company take?
Workers who have had a causal contact with a confirmed case may continue to work. However, passive surveillance should be carried out in case symptoms appear.
In coordination with the prevention service, prevention measures should be immediately reinforced throughout the workplace. Hygiene, cleanliness, social distancing, training and information for personnel who continue to provide service, etc.
Likewise, cleaning and disinfection of all the surfaces and facilities of the company should be carried out. With special emphasis on those areas, machinery and production elements in the environment of the affected employee.
Attached you will find an illustrative video of short duration and recommended for its informative character.
However, you must always follow the instructions and recommendations of the regional health services and the Ministry of Health. These will be adapted according to the evolution of the pandemic. And that can affect both the protocols and the actions to be followed in companies.
Arrabe Integra
Labour Consulting and HR Management
