Recommendations from Washington State
The Washington State Department of Health recommends that all employers put COVID-19 screening protocols in place. You can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your facility by screening employees and visitors on a daily basis.
The screening protocol outlined below is based on the following:
• A review of screening protocols from multiple agencies
• Recommendations by the CDC
• A literature review of the most common signs and symptoms of COVID-19
COVID-19 screening protocol: What to do Screen everyone who enters your facility, including:
• All employees before the start of each work shift
• All visitors
COVID-19 Screening Protocol
Ask the following questions when you screen employees and visitors:
“YES or NO, since your last day of work, or since your last visit to this facility, have you had any of the following:”
- A new fever (100.4°F or higher), or a sense of having a fever?*
- A new cough that you cannot attribute to another health condition?*
- New shortness of breath that you cannot attribute to another health condition?*
- A new sore throat that you cannot attribute to another health condition?*
- New muscle aches (myalgias) that you cannot attribute to another health condition, or that may have been caused by a specific activity (such as physical exercise)?*
*If an employee or visitor answers YES to any of the screening questions, immediately activate your agency’s emergency protocol for COVID-19. The designated screener should consider:
• A review of the screening results
• Recommendations for possible exclusion of the employee or visitor from the facility
• Recommendations for medical follow-up
From The Washington State Health Department March 21, 2020