Arvada Chamber of Commerce

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COVID-19 at Your Business Toolkit

The Arvada Chamber, along with our partners on the Arvada Resiliency Taskforce, is dedicated to providing the latest resources and guidance to help all Arvada businesses stay healthy through the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on frequently asked questions from Arvada businesses, this toolkit is a living, updated resource for employers and employees to navigate these difficult times. Below, find the latest local case information, testing locations, return-to-work guidance, and communication samples to use in the event of a reported case at your place of business.

Please contact Ryan Hecht (ryan@arvadachamber.org) with additional questions or resources to add to this toolkit.


FOR EMPLOYERS

STAYING SAFE BEFORE A CASE

Health and Safety Resources

  • New: Colorado County COVID-19 Dial Dashboard
  • Updated Jeffco Case Summary
  • Updated Colorado Case Summary
  • CDC: Resuming Business Toolkit
  • CDC: Small Business Guidance
  • CDC: Understand the Symptoms

Industry-Specific Guidance (CDC)

  • Restaurants and Bars
  • Office Settings (Non-Public Facing)
  • Retirement Communities
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Community and Faith-Based
  • Pet Stores, Pet Distributors, and Pet Breeding Facilities

Where to get tested

  • Antibody Tests tell you if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19; whether results are positive or negative, that does not confirm whether or not you can spread the virus or if you are immune.
  • Viral Tests tell you if you have a current infection.
  • Find the latest locations for both tests here. Local testing locations include:
    • Water World (8801 N. Pecos St., Federal Heights)
    • NextCare Urgent Care – Arvada (7380 W 52nd Ave, Arvada)
    • AFC Urgent Care – Denver Highlands (3800 Irving St, Denver)
    • Pepsi Center (1000 Chopper Cir, Denver)
    • Stride CHC and Jeffco Public Schools – Jeffco Stadium (500 Kipling St, Lakewood)
    • Walgreens (1505 S Federal Blvd, Denver)

If an employee suspects they have been exposed or may have COVID-19

As a manager or supervisor, you are not to give a medical diagnosis but are permitted to ask questions of an employee to determine their ability to perform their work and the potential impact on the environment. Questions you may ask include:

  • Why do you think you have been exposed?
  • Are you experiencing symptoms (as defined by the CDC)?
  • Have you spoken to your doctor about the need for COVID-19 testing?
  • Have you been instructed to be tested?
  • Other questions here.

If an employee presents symptoms of COVID-19

If an employee suffered from a fever and cough, was not positively diagnosed for COVID-19 and has recovered, they can return to work under the following conditions (according to the CDC):

  • A minimum of 3 days has passed since recovery, with no fever for at least 72 hours. Employees also must have no abnormal temperature for 72 hours without the use of any fever-reducing medicines like aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
  • Their respiratory symptoms have improved
  • 7 days have passed since symptoms first started

What should we do for employees who work in close proximity to an employee who is being tested for COVID-19 or has COVID-19 like-symptoms?

Clean the work spaces using CDPHE’s cleaning guidance. Consider allowing employees to work from home, if possible, while the cleaning takes place. In many work situations, it will not be feasible to have employees work from home; in that situation, encourage employees to use good hygiene practices to lower immediate exposure risk and ask employees to monitor themselves for signs of symptoms. Employees should then be informed of any mitigating strategies that will be employed to ensure the safety of the work area. Mitigation strategies could include alternate work location or rotating shifts to reduce the number of employees in a certain area.

IF A CONFIRMED CASE IS REPORTED AT YOUR LOCATION

What to do if a visitor tests positive for COVID-19

If your place of business has been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, an employee from JCPH (contact tracer) might call to inform you that you’ve been exposed. Learn more about contact tracing at the state level here.
Please follow these steps:

  • Notify your employees.
  • Notify the landlord/building management.
  • Contact building maintenance or a cleaning service to have the affected area cleaned. View instructions regarding disinfecting.
  • See suggested external communications below.

What to do if one employee tests positive for COVID-19

Current recommendations by the CDC and CDPHE state that individuals should isolate for a minimum of 10 days since the symptoms first appeared (if asymptomatic, since the test date), and at least 24 hours have passed without a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications), and other respiratory symptoms have improved. Closure may not be necessary (see above). Please follow the steps:​

  • Notify your employees.
  • Notify the landlord/building management.
  • Contact building maintenance or a cleaning service to have the affected area cleaned. View instructions regarding disinfecting.
  • See suggested external communications below.

What to do if an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs

Workplaces/facilities that suspect an outbreak (knowledge of 2 or more employees with confirmed COVID-19 within a 14-day period) should immediately take the following actions:

  • The workplace/facility should temporarily close.
  • Fill out the CDPHE COVID-19 outbreak report form and send it to your local public health agency to report the outbreak in accordance with Colorado statute.
  • Begin identifying staff with COVID-19-like symptoms using this CDPHE COVID-19 line list template.
  • Work closely with your local public health agency to confirm whether an outbreak exists, determine the extent of the outbreak, and monitor for any additional outbreak cases.
  • See suggested external communications below.

Sample Communications

If an employee or customer that was at your establishment positive for COVID-19, a public notification of exposure from the Health Department may be required. As a business owner, you may wish to alert the public as well. Businesses are not required to disclose to the public if an employee tests positive for COVID-19, but they can choose to do so. Businesses and the Health Department are not allowed to release the name of individuals or employees who test positive to the public or co-workers.

Click here for sample communications for internal (emails) and external (emails, social media).

Return to Work: Confirmed Case of COVID-19 with No Symptoms

If an employee has tested positive for COVID-19 but has not presented symptoms or become ill, they must remain in isolation following their diagnosis. Based on the CDC guidelines, they can return to work after meeting the following conditions:

  • At least 7 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 test
  • For an additional 3 days after they end isolation, they continue to limit contact (stay 6 feet away) with others
  • They wear a mask or other covering of their nose and mouth to limit exposure

Return to Work: Confirmed Case of COVID-19 but Not Requiring Hospitalization

If an employee has tested positive for COVID-19 and has become mildly or moderately ill due to the virus but did not require hospitalization, they can return to work after meeting the following conditions:

  • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms began
  • They have experienced no abnormal fever for a minimum of 24 hours. Employees must have no significant temperature for 24 hours without the use of any fever-reducing medicines like aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
  • Other symptoms have improved
  • The employee exhibits no symptoms of COVID-19

Return to Work: Confirmed Case of COVID-19 Requiring Hospitalization

These individuals pose the highest risk of spreading infection across your workforce. The CDC recommends that any employee who has received a positive test and has been hospitalized receive rigorous testing before returning to work because they may experience longer periods of viral detection compared to those with mild or moderate symptoms.

More resources

  • An Employee Has COVID-19-Now What? An Employer’s Quick 7-Step Guide
  • How to Effectively Manage a COVID-19 Positive Case in the Workplace


FOR EMPLOYEES

Health and Safety Resources

  • Understand the symptoms
  • Human Resources Colorado College: COVID-19 FAQs for Employees

Where to get tested

  • Antibody Tests tell you if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19; whether results are positive or negative, that does not confirm whether or not you can spread the virus or if you are immune.
  • Viral Tests tell you if you have a current infection.
  • Find the latest locations for both tests here. Local testing locations include:
    • Water World (8801 N. Pecos St., Federal Heights)
    • NextCare Urgent Care – Arvada (7380 W 52nd Ave, Arvada)
    • AFC Urgent Care – Denver Highlands (3800 Irving St, Denver)
    • Pepsi Center (1000 Chopper Cir, Denver)
    • Stride CHC and Jeffco Public Schools – Jeffco Stadium (500 Kipling St, Lakewood)
    • Walgreens (1505 S Federal Blvd, Denver)

What if I am afraid to get tested because of the impacts on my life or job?

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, it is important for you to know that worker protections are in place to ensure that you can isolate yourself, both for your own health and recovery and for the safety of everyone around you. Federal law requires up to two weeks paid leave for those who work for employers with fewer than 500 employees (though some employers with 50 or fewer employees may be exempt). The Colorado Health Emergency Leave with Pay Rules (“Colorado HELP Rules”) adds coverage for workers as well. Read more in this FAQ.

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19

An employee (case investigator) from JCPH might call you to check-in on your health, discuss who you’ve been in contact with and ask you to stay at home to self-isolate. Unless you give permission, your name will not be revealed to those you came in contact with, even if they ask. This infographic explains Jeffco’s exposure notification process. You must thentake the following actions:

  • Isolate for at least 10 days have passed since symptoms began
  • To return to work, you must have no significant temperature for 24 hours without the use of any fever-reducing medicines like aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

If you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19

An employee from JCPH (contact tracer) might call to inform you that you’ve been exposed. They will ask you to stay at home and self-quarantine.

What if my employer is requiring me to return to work but I don't feel safe?

Per Safer at Home Executive Order D 2020 044, no vulnerable individuals can be compelled by their employer to return to work if their work requires in person work near others. Employers must accommodate vulnerable individuals with remote work options, if the work can be done remotely. If you refuse to return to work due to unsatisfactory or hazardous working conditions based on your status as a member of a vulnerable group, you may continue to be eligible for benefits based on the risk to your health.If you refuse to return to work due to unsatisfactory or hazardous working conditions because you reside with a person who is a member of a vulnerable group, you may continue to be eligible for benefits based on the risk to the health of your co-inhabitant. More information here.

My workplace wants me to come back but with schools closed I have no childcare, what are my options?

Per Safer at Home Executive Order D 2020 044, employers must make accommodations to the greatest extent possible for workers who are experiencing a lack of childcare due to school closures such accommodations include but are not limited to remote work options and or flexible scheduling.Federal law now provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for childcare needs due to a coronavirus-related closure of a school or childcare establishment. The CARES Act also provides unemployment benefits under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to those unable to work due to COVID-19.

Where can I learn more or ask questions about paid leave, discrimination/accommodation, or workplace safety?

  • For the federal paid leave rules applicable to employers with fewer than 500 employees: read this U.S. Department of Labor information page, then call 1-866-487-9243 or (720) 264-3250 with any remaining questions.
  • For the Colorado HELP Rules applicable to employers of all size in the industries listed above: read this Colorado Department of Labor and Employment page on the Colorado HELP Rules, then call (303) 318-8441 or email cdle_labor_standards@state.co.us with any remaining questions.
  • For information on workplace discrimination and accommodation, contact the Colorado Civil Rights Division or the local office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  • For workplace safety issues and violations, contact the local office of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

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Arvada Chamber of Commerce
7305 Grandview Ave.
Arvada, CO 80002

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(303) 424-0313

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