On April 8, 2020, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
("CDC") provided updated guidance for COVID-19 exposed
employees for essential businesses, such as groceries, hospitals,
and first responders. Previously, the CDC recommended that any
worker exposed to someone suspected of having COVID-19 isolate at
home for 14 days, lest they become sick and infect others. The
strategy was to lessen the possible exposure and spread of COVID-19
exposure other workers. However, the unintended consequence of this
strategy was the impact on essential businesses, requiring more and
more workers to self-isolate. This in turn, creates workforce
shortages in multiple essential industries. As a result, the CDC is
making recommendations for essential businesses to continue
operations with updated guidance for essential workers.
