03/20/2024
Requested Actions
- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced updated guidance for what to do when someone is sick with COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses.
- The new DOH guidance does not apply to health care settings. People who are staying, working, or visiting in a health care setting, long-term care facility, or residential care setting should follow the guidance in COVID-19 Infection Prevention in Health Care Settings, and the flu guidance for health care settings and long-term care facilities provided by the CDC.
- Employers must follow Washington State Department of Labor & Industries COVID-19 requirement in the workplace.
Background
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced updated guidance for what to do when someone is sick with COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses.
The new guidance recommends people return to normal activities when their symptoms are getting better overall and they have not had a fever (without having to use fever-reducing medication) for at least 24 hours. It is important to remember that people can still be contagious even when their symptoms have improved:
- People with COVID-19 can be contagious for 5-10 days after their illness begins.
- People with flu can be contagious for up to 5-7 days after their illness begins.
- People with RSV can be contagious for 3-8 days after their illness begins.
The new DOH guidance does not apply to health care settings. People who are staying, working, or visiting in a health care setting, long-term care facility, or residential care setting should follow the guidance in COVID-19 Infection Prevention in Health Care Settings, and the flu guidance for health care settings and long-term care facilities provided by the CDC. Employers must follow Washington State Department of Labor & Industries COVID-19 requirement in the workplace.
Additional Resources
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries COVID-19 requirement
WA DOH: COVID-19 Infection Prevention in Health Care Settings
CDC: Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings