UIC workplace public health guidance for supervisors
Last Updated: October 31, 2022
The UIC COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Epidemiology Program has made several changes to streamline its operations and ensure rapid sustained service to the UIC community, particularly during times when there are large numbers of cases. Operations have shifted to being increasingly email driven, rather than telephone based. Please monitor your UIC inbox closely and encourage fellow colleagues to do so as well. Email communications will primarily come from uic_contact_tracing@uic.edu.
How supervisors can address employee questions about reporting COVID-19 symptoms, exposures and positive COVID-19 tests to Contact Tracing.
An employee reports they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Instruct the employee to stay home and report their symptoms via the UIC COVID-19 Reporting Decision Tool, no matter how mild. Once they report their symptoms, they will receive guidance from our Contact Tracing on testing and return to participation guidance.
An employee reports they tested positive for COVID-19.
Instruct the employee to stay home. They should report their positive test via the Reporting Decision Toolif they tested off-campus; otherwise Contact Tracing will receive the result and initiate the contact tracing process. Employees should monitor their email for communications from our team (uic_contact_tracing@uic.edu) and complete the survey as quickly as possible for tailored guidance, isolation support, and rapid identification of any exposed UIC affiliate. UIC Contact Tracing will send 1-2 additional surveys for further follow-up. Any required further action for the supervisor will be communicated by UIC Contact Tracing, 312-355-2555 or cctepsupervisors@uic.edu. Contact Tracing will interview the case and reach out to any exposed UIC affiliates. Supervisors can also suggest that the employee consider contacting persons who they believe they exposed during their infectious period, which can be done anonymously online.
- UIC’s current policy is that all individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or are likely positive for COVID-19 isolate for a minimum of seven days. If an individual is asymptomatic or if their symptoms have improved* then the individual must adhere to strict masking in ALL SETTINGS ON UIC’S CAMPUS THROUGH DAY 10 OF ILLNESS (calculated from symptom onset, if symptomatic, or date of positive test, if asymptomatic). If the criteria for returning to participation are not met, then the individual will need to remain in home isolation.
An employee reports they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Instruct the employee to report their exposure via the Reporting Decision Tool. After reporting their exposure, the employee will receive an email communication to their UIC inbox from uic_contact_tracing@uic.edu with instructions to complete a brief survey. Please encourage the employee to complete the survey as quickly as possible to receive tailored guidance for testing and symptom monitoring. UIC Contact Tracing will then send an additional 1-2 surveys for further follow-up. We will closely monitor all surveys for indications of symptoms or a positive test, if either are reported, our team will reach out to the employee via phone to provide further guidance and support.
- Please note, quarantine is not recommended at this time for any individual regardless of exposure type or vaccination status.
- Individuals with household or high-risk exposures will need to test twice, 48 hours apart. Individuals who were not exposed in the household or whose exposure was not deemed to be high-risk will be asked to test 5 days following their last exposure. All individuals must mask in all spaces on UIC’s campus through day 10 from their last exposure and monitor for symptoms. Specific guidance can be found on UIC today.
How supervisors can address concerns and questions about campus Contact Tracing and COVID-19 risk reductions in the workplace.
I’m not sure when to expect communication from Contact Tracing about employees.
If the employee reported a positive COVID-19 test, supervisors can normally expect to receive communication from UIC Contact Tracing within 48 hours of the employee reporting their test as long as the employee attended work while infectious. Supervisors will not hear from UIC Contact Tracing unless the employee tests positive for COVID-19 or is likely infected with COVID-19 based on current public health guidelines.
UIC Contact Tracing reached out because an employee attended work while infectious.
Contact tracing will work to determine if the employee exposed any others. If deemed exposed, the individual will be notified via email to their UIC inbox from uic_contact_tracing@uic.edu with instructions to complete a brief survey.
- In most cases, Contact Tracing will send an email to the supervisor to disseminate to all employees to notify them of the investigation and provide testing guidance, if applicable. In rare situations (e.g., in the event of a masking breach), a UIC Contact Tracing supervisor will reach out to supervisors by phone to ask them for information about the workplace’s general structure (e.g., activities, organization) and any potential interactions between the case and other employees. In those instances, supervisors will receive an email summarizing our investigation and indicating what actions are needed, if any.
I’m not sure how Contact Tracing determined whether someone had an exposure at work.
Contact Tracing collects detailed epidemiologic information(distance, duration of contact, activities, ventilation, location and masking utilization) to determine whether an individual was meaningfully exposed to a COVID positive person based on current guidelines.
What can I do to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace?
Based on our analyses, we have learned that transmission often is attributed to less formal times, such as meal and coffee breaks and social events. It is important to reinforce masking or social distancing during times when persons cannot mask (e.g., eating). It is also important to reinforce strict masking in the workplace and to encourage any employee with COVID-19-like symptoms to stay home and report to Contact Tracing, no matter how mild the symptoms may be.
How to address employee noncompliance with prevention recommendations, reporting requirements, and how to develop plans to make your worksite safer regarding COVID-19.
An employee refused to comply with UIC COVID-19 policies, for example, by showing up to work after being told to isolate or refusing to report a positive test result.
You should communicate directly with your Human Resources department for further guidance.
I have concerns about my workspace.
Please contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office or complete an anonymous online report.
Important resources:
- UIC COVID-19 Reporting Decision Tool
- UIC Contact Tracing hours of operation
- UIC COVID-19 FAQs
- UIC Road to Recovery (includes current travel policies)
- UIC-Sponsored Travel Guidance
- Employee Assistance Program
- CCTEP Contact Tracing Resources
- Navigating Isolation
- UIC Isolation and Post-Exposure Guidelines