"Close Contact" Redefined By CDC And Implications For Employers

Among the precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is social distancing. In the workplace, that generally means being at least 6 feet away from another person. In this regard, we all should remember that it generally is not social distancing or wearing a mask, but social distancing and wearing a mask.

There are many circumstances where an individual may have a greater risk of exposure to COVID-19. One of them is "close contact," as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with a person who has COVID-19. Historically, for purposes of COVID-19, close contact has been defined as being within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for at least 15 consecutive minutes. That standard was changed last week by the CDC and has important implications for employers.