POSITIVE EMPLOYEES

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate. Employees should report a positive test, including an at-home test, to their employer.

If an Employee Tests Positive:

• Those who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home.
• Follow guidance on the If You Test Positive page. 

At-Home Tests:

• You can and should exclude employees from work based on a positive at-home test result.
• Negative at-home test results should not be used to allow an employee to return to work (either from isolation or quarantine).
• Individuals are not exempt from isolation after a repeat positive result (within 90 days of a previous positive) if their initial positive test was only an at-home test and not confirmed by a second test from a health care provider or testing site.
• Read more about at-home tests in the WI DHS At-Home COVID-19 Tests fact sheet.

Outbreak or Significant Increase in Cases:

• If your business experiences a suspected outbreak (two or more cases which are linked through close contact) or large increase in COVID-19 cases or illness in general, please reach out to the City of Racine Public Health Department.
• Contact us at [email protected] or call 262-636-9201. Select Option 1 or 2 (for English or Spanish, respectively) and then Option 5. Leave a message if your call is not answered.
• When contacting us, provide the following:
  • Business name and location,
  • Best contact person and their contact information,
  • Number of ill and exposed employees, visitors, etc., and
  • Other relevant information based on your business.

IMPORTANT:
Due to recent alterations to COVID-19 disease investigation and contact tracing protocols, individuals will not be contacted by the Public Health Department after a positive test or notice of exposure. It is essential that businesses exclude employees who are ill or test positive while also notifying those who are exposed.

Employers should not require employees to have documentation or a release letter from the Public Health Department for returning to work. Employers also should not require employees who tested positive for COVID-19 to provide a negative test result prior to returning to work; instead, follow the guidance above.

EXPOSURES

When Employees are Exposed:

• Quarantining following exposure to COVID-19 is no longer required except in specific, high-risk settings.
• Instead, employers should enforce mask usage for employees exposed to COVID-19 per the guidance found here: If You Are Exposed to COVID-19

IMPORTANT:
Due to recent alterations to COVID-19 disease investigation and contact tracing protocols, individuals will not be contacted by the Public Health Department after a positive test or exposure.

Employers should not require employees to have documentation or a release letter from the Public Health Department for returning to work; instead, follow the guidance above.

RESOURCES

Additional information about COVID-19:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Info | City of Racine
• COVID-19 Testing Info | City of Racine
• Quarantine and Isolation | CDC
• Stay Up to Date with Your Vaccines | CDC
• COVID-19: Diagnosed | WI DHS
• COVID-19: Close Contacts | WI DHS
• WI DHS Fact Sheets:
  • Isolation and Quarantine
  • How Long Should I Quarantine?
  • How Long Should I Isolate?
  • COVID-19 Testing: What to Know
  • At-Home COVID-19 Tests
  • COVID-19 Antigen Testing Guidance
• Self-Testing | CDC
• COVID-19 | OSHA
• Vaccine Guidance for All Businesses | WEDC