COVID-19 - Social Distancing Guidelines for Government Employees (December Update)

I-2020-28


Effective Date: Expiration Date: Chapters:
Dec. 21, 2020 May 22, 2021 2   9   10   36   38  

Overview

We want to thank every District government employee for their continued hard work during this unprecedented time. As COVID-19 infections continue to increase, whether on-duty or off-duty, every employee must adhere to social distancing guidelines issued by the federal and District governments or other relevant jurisdictions. We all have a heightened responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 due to our close interactions with colleagues and the public. This issuance supersedes Issuance I-2020-9, effective March 30, 2020, and is updated to reflect changes to health guidance since March 30, 2020.


Your Responsibilities

As stewards of this great city, we have an enhanced role to play to help stop the spread of COVID-19. While agencies continue to provide guidance to employees on social distancing practices specific to on-duty activities; while off-duty, and of critical note, employees must also follow guidance from relevant jurisdictions or public guidance established by DC Health including:

Stop the Spread of COVID-19

  • Stay at home if you are not feeling well.
  • Practice social distancing. Keep 6 feet of distance between you and others who are not in your household.
  • While outdoor activities are preferred over indoor activities, please understand that interacting with more people in any setting raises your risk. Therefore, follow social distancing and face covering recommendations.
  • Other than as excepted by Mayor’s Order, only engage in gatherings with members outside of your household in accordance with relevant District orders that limit indoor gatherings to 10 or fewer  individuals, and outdoor gatherings to 25 or fewer, or as otherwise permitted under your local jurisdiction’s requirements, e.g., Maryland, Virginia.  
  • Wear a face covering when around other people who are not from your household or as otherwise permitted under your local jurisdiction’s requirements. Wearing a face covering is not a substitute for physical distancing.
  • To the extent possible, Maintain 6 feet of distance between you and others not from your household.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water frequently or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and is store-bought (do not make your own).
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces on a daily basis. Make sure you clean visible dirt with soap and water before you disinfect. For more information, review the CDC’s guidance on Cleaning and Disinfection for Households.
  • Download the free COVID alert notice (DC CAN) app that can help protect the community while protecting your privacy, or your state’s app. 
  • In addition, if visiting with members of another household –
    • Meet outdoors whenever possible,
    • Make sure no one is sick, has been sick, or has been around someone who was sick in the last two weeks,
    • Avoid sharing food, utensils, and other items, and
    • Keep a list of the guests (for contact tracing purposes), and cooperate with any contact tracing officials who may call you.
NOTE: Employees who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 should continue to take precautions to stop the spread of the virus, and are still subject to any travel restrictions or mask mandates.

Holiday Celebrations

The end of the year brings many holidays that are important to our community. However, employees must not participate in any in person holiday festivities within the District if they:

  • Have tested positive for COVID-19 and are within their isolation period, whether or not they have symptoms.
  • Have recently been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and are within their 14-day quarantine period, even if they have tested negative during that time.
  • Have any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever (subjective or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or otherwise feeling unwell.

For additional guidance, see DC Health’s Guidance for Thanksgiving and Other Holiday Celebrations.

If you develop symptoms:

  • Stay at home. While at home, limit close contact (less than 6 feet of distance) with others. Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your household, if possible. Also, avoid sharing personal items where possible.
  • Do not report to the workplace in person. Notify your supervisor immediately and discuss options for leave or telework.
  • Avoid public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis, unless necessary.
  • If you need to be evaluated for COVID-19, consult your healthcare provider. Call ahead and let them know of your symptoms.
  • Call 911 if you have a medical emergency such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face.
  • Refer to the DC Health’s COVID-19 Information for High Risk Residents and Seniors.

If you test positive for COVID-19, follow DC Health’s Guidance for Persons Who Tested Positive for COVID-19 or other applicable authority or guidance.


Why Are These Steps Important?

Avoiding people with symptoms of COVID-19 is not enough to curb this pandemic. Many individuals carry the novel coronavirus without showing any of the typical symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, dry cough, shortness of breath or loss of senses of taste or smell. However, asymptomatic and mildly ill people can still infect others with the virus.  Engaging in  activities with people outside of work who do not comply with applicable social distancing guidelines carries a significant risk of exposure to themselves, to their co-workers, and to the public.

What we need most right now is to slow the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing both on and off duty. Employees should practice social distancing to the fullest extent possible when going out for critical needs;  only engage in gatherings that comply with District or federal guidance or other applicable local law; and  remain at least 6 feet apart when encountering someone outside of their immediate household.

Following these guidelines improves the safety of yourself, your family, your co-workers, and our community. Together, we will keep each other safe and, as a city, we will persevere.


References

  1. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19): General Guidance for the Public, DC Health (Last updated June 17, 2020).
  2. Cleaning and Disinfection for Households, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Last updated July 10, 2020).
  3. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19): Guidance for Thanksgiving and Other Holiday Celebrations, DC Health (Last updated Oct. 26, 2020).
  4. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for High Risk Residents and Seniors, DC Health (March 12, 2020).
  5. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for Persons Who Tested Positive for COVID-19, DC Health (Last updated August 3, 2020).

Issued by Director Ventris C. Gibson, D.C. Department of Human Resources on Dec. 18, 2020, 10:10 a.m.