SBA COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan
Summary
The SBA COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan, updated December 2022. Its table of contents covers the background, the SBA COVID-19 Coordination Team and its membership and responsibilities, collective bargaining obligations and communications. It then sets out safety protocols based on COVID-19 community levels, including maintaining safety conditions in the operating environment and mask wearing, followed by further workplace procedures.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Full text
SBA COVID-19 WORKPLACE SAFETY PLAN
Updated December 2022
Pres1
Table of Contents
1 Background........................................................................................................1
2 SBA COVID-19 Coordination Team ........................................................................1
2.1 SBA COVID-19 Coordination Team Membership ........................................................................ 1
2.2 Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................ 2
3 Collective Bargaining Obligations ........................................................................2
4 Communications ................................................................................................2
5 Safety Protocols Based on COVID-19 Community Levels .........................................3
5.1 Maintaining Safety Conditions in the Operating Environment .................................................. 3
5.2 Mask Wearing ............................................................................................................................... 4
5.3 Vaccination................................................................................................................................... 5
5.4 Facilitating Physical Distancing and Avoiding Crowding ........................................................... 6
5.5 Self-Conducted Symptom Screening .......................................................................................... 6
5.6 Visitors .......................................................................................................................................... 7
5.7 Contractors .................................................................................................................................. 7
5.8 Screening Testing ........................................................................................................................ 7
5.9 Reasonable Accommodations Requests Related to COVID-19 .................................................. 7
5.10 OSHA Recordkeeping for COVID-19 Work-Related Incidents .................................................... 8
6 Official Travel ..................................................................................................... 8
6.1 Supervisor Responsibilities ........................................................................................................8
6.2 Travel for Employees with Known Exposure ..............................................................................9
6.3 Travel for Employees with COVID-19 Symptoms or a Positive COVID-19 Test ..........................9
7 Meetings, Events, and Conferences .................................................................... 10
8 Post-Exposure Precautions, Isolation, and Post-Isolation Precautions .................. 10
APPENDIX A: References Incorporated COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan 11/2022 ......... 14
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1 Background
The SBA has a critical mission to support businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations in
recovering from the impact of COVID-19. The Agency must be able to sustain Agency operations while
protecting the health and safety of all SBA employees, onsite contractor employees, and individuals
interacting with the SBA workforce. Pursuant to Section 2(a) of E.O. 13991, the SBA is directed to
“immediately take action, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to require compliance
with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines with respect to wearing masks,
maintaining physical distance, and other public health measures by: on-duty or onsite Federal
employees; and onsite Federal contractors.”
In support of the continued health and safety of all SBA employees, onsite contractor employees, and
individuals interacting with SBA’s workforce, the SBA is providing this updated COVID-19 Workplace
Safety Plan that sets forth COVID-19 workplace safety protocols for SBA facilities in alignment with the
Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force) Model Agency COVID-19 Safety Principles published
September 15, 2022, and pursuant to E.O. 13991.
The SBA adheres to CDC guidance and applicable guidance from other Federal agencies in the
development and implementation of its workplace safety plan, as well as to Memorandum of
Understanding agreed to between the Agency and the AFGE Local 228. If there is a conflict between
the current SBA Workplace Safety Plan and the agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between the Agency and AFGE Local 228 related to SBA’s Workplace Safety and Reentry Plan, the MOU
shall prevail for covered bargaining unit employees, provided negotiated terms conform to Federal
law and regulation.
Issuance of this updated Plan supersedes the SBA COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan issued February
2022.
2 SBA COVID-19 Coordination Team
2.1 SBA COVID-19 Coordination Team Membership
To be consistent with Task Force guidance and OMB Memorandum M-21-15, the SBA will maintain the
SBA COVID-19 Coordination Team (Team). The Team will continue to include executive leadership and
subject matter experts to represent the following capabilities:
• Human Resources (represented by the Office of Human Resources Solutions)
• Occupational Safety and Health (represented by the Office of Executive Management,
Installations & Support Services)
• Legal Counsel (represented by the Office of General Counsel)
The Team will include and consult, as appropriate, the Agency’s Senior Agency Official for Privacy and
SBA program office leadership. The Office of Continuous Operations and Risk Management provides
day-to-day coordinative support for Team activities.
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2.2 Responsibilities
The Team meets on a weekly basis, or as appropriate, to perform the following responsibilities:
• Review compliance with SBA’s COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan, protocols, and policies;
• Consider and—following consultation with the Task Force—implement potential revisions to
SBA’s COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan, protocols, and policies consistent with Task Force and
CDC guidance;
• Ensure the SBA COVID-19 Workforce Safety Plan, protocols, and policies are broadly
communicated to Agency employees and, as appropriate, onsite contractor employees,
visitors to Agency facilities, and in-person attendees at Agency-hosted meetings, events, and
conferences;
• Maintain and update, as needed, the SBA’s COVID-19 Operations Portal ;
• Evaluate any other operational needs related to COVID-19 workplace safety; and
• Work with SBA’s National Labor Relations Division to maintain ongoing communications with
labor partners related to safety guidance/direction and participate in negotiations, as
appropriate.
The Team coordinates all decisions with Facilities, Safety, and Security Division, as appropriate. For
privately owned facilities leased by the General Services Administration (GSA), the Facilities, Safety,
and Security Division coordinates with GSA, where appropriate, and the lessor’s designated
representative.
3 Collective Bargaining Obligations
Consistent with President Biden’s policy to support collective bargaining, the SBA will satisfy any
applicable collective bargaining obligations under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71. The SBA will communicate, as
necessary with its labor partners on COVID-19 workplace safety matters. The SBA will engage with its
labor partners if it adjusts the agency COVID-19 workplace safety plan, protocols, and policies, and
otherwise satisfy any applicable collective bargaining obligations under the law, including post-
implementation bargaining, where appropriate. The SBA will review its existing agreements to assess
whether any updated COVID-19 workplace safety protocols conflict with existing provisions. To the
extent that conflicting provisions exist, the SBA will satisfy its bargaining obligations, as required, to
bring these provisions into compliance.
4 Communications
As the COVID-19 public health emergency continues to shift and affect the safety of staff and
workplace operations, the SBA will continue to follow CDC and Task Force guidance for its decisions.
The SBA communicates changes to workplace safety plans or policies through the following
mechanisms:
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• COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan: This document will be revised as needed to include revisions
to safety protocols and policies.
• Agency Email Alerts (e.g., Chief Operating Officer / Chief Human Capital Officer Alerts): These
Agency-wide alerts supplement the workplace safety plan and provide the most up-to-date
information on any changes to workplace policies, including changes to safety protocols.
• COVID-19 Operations Portal (SBA Intranet): This Portal serves as the central point of relevant
COVID-19 policies and resources for the SBA workforce.
• SBA Daily: “Health & Safety” Section: This daily post directs employees and managers to visit
the Portal and highlights new guidance, resources, etc.
5 Safety Protocols Based on COVID-19 Community Levels
5.1 Maintaining Safety Conditions in the Operating Environment
The CDC provides county-level data showing the COVID-19 Community Level for each county in the
United States. The SBA provides weekly COVID-19 Community-Level Data for SBA facilities on the
COVID-19 Community-Level Data Page of the COVID-19 Operations Portal.
All SBA employees are strongly encouraged to regularly review the community-level data and use the
safety protocols table (Table 1: SBA Safety Protocols Based on COVID-19 Community Levels below), as
well as facility signage, to determine the appropriate safety protocols to follow when reporting onsite
or performing in-person engagements. Where a locality imposes more protective pandemic-related
safety requirements, those requirements should be followed in SBA facilities within that locality.
SBA supervisors monitor the adherence to these safety protocols and administer disciplinary actions,
as necessary.
Note: COVID-19 workplace safety protocols currently do not vary based on vaccination status or
otherwise depend on vaccination information.
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Table 1: SBA Safety Protocols Based on COVID-19 Community Levels
5.2 Mask Wearing
The SBA ensures that individuals can wear a mask, if they so choose , when the COVID-19 Community
Level is LOW or MEDIUM. SBA requires individuals including employees, contractor employees, and
visitors—who are 2 years or older, regardless of vaccination status 1” to wear mask or respirator when
COVID-19 Community Levels are HIGH. Individuals are also required to take post-exposure and post-
isolation precautions (see section Post-Exposure Precautions, Isolation, and Post-Isolation
Precautions), as appropriate.
All SBA employees, onsite contractor employees, and visitors 2 years or older are expected to comply
with the mask-wearing requirements. This includes when Federal employees are interacting with
members of the public as part of their official responsibilities. Supervisors (and CORs for contractors)
are responsible for setting the example and enforcing the implementation of mask-wearing
requirements for employees and visitors. Federal employees who do not comply with such
requirements may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including removal. The SBA posts and
1
High-quality masks or respirators include respirators that meet U.S. or international standards (e.g., N95, KN95,
KF94), masks that meet a standard (e.g., ASTM), or “procedure” or “surgical”-style masks. The SBA otherwise
avoids limiting the types of masks that can be worn by individuals in SBA facilities.
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updates signs and information on the SBA COVID-19 Operations Portal to make clear what mask-
wearing requirements apply in each Federal facility. Table 1 above captures the mask-wearing
protocols based on the COVID-19 Community Level.
When required, high-quality masks or respirators should be worn in any common areas or shared
workspaces (including open floorplan office space, cubicle embankments, and conference rooms).
Masks may be removed only in enclosed offices or workspaces (floor-to-ceiling walls/partitions),
where the door is closed and there is only one occupant, or while eating or drinking. and maintaining
distance from others. Appropriate masks should be well-fitting and worn consistently and
appropriately (i.e., covering the mouth and nose completely). Individuals may be asked to lower their
masks briefly for identification purposes in compliance with safety and security requirements.
Individuals do not need to wear masks or respirators when outdoors.
When the SBA requires that individual wear high-quality mask or respirators, SBA makes them
available to SBA employees, and program offices may also make them available to onsite contractor
employees and visitors.
5.3 Vaccination
The SBA continues efforts to remind employees about the importance of vaccination. Consistent with
Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance, SBA has paused requiring or requesting employees and
potential employees to provide information about their COVID-19 vaccination status. The SBA
continues to preserve its vaccination information collection systems and the information collected
from employees in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration records
schedules; COVID-19 workplace safety protocols may change in the future, or collection of this
information from employees may otherwise need to resume. The Government-wide Certification of
Vaccination form is no longer used.
1) Executive Orders on COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
• E.O. 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal
Employees: To ensure compliance with an applicable nationwide preliminary injunction,
which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing
litigation, the SBA will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination
requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043. Any aspects of this COVID-19 Workplace
Safety Plan related to the vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 14043 are not in effect
and will not be implemented or enforced by the SBA while the injunction is in place.
• One or more court orders currently prohibit the enforcement of requirements of E.O.
14042 on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors against
certain parties and within certain locations. At this time, consistent with guidance from
OMB and the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, the SBA will take no action to enforce
compliance with any contract clause implementing E.O. 14042 regardless of party or
location. See the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force website for more information,
including the latest guidance regarding the implementation and enforcement of E.O.
14042: For Federal Contractors | Safer Federal Workforce
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2) Leave Related to COVID-19 Vaccination
To promote the safety of the SBA workforce and the public they serve, supervisors must grant
leave-eligible employees up to 4 hours of administrative leave for the following COVID-19
vaccination-related purposes:
• Leave to Obtain Vaccination: Employees who obtain a vaccination or booster during
their regularly scheduled work hours should be granted administrative leave to include
time spent traveling to and from the vaccination site.
• Leave to Accompany a Family Member to Obtain Vaccination: Supervisors must grant
employees administrative leave to accompany a family member (see 5 CFR 630.20) being
vaccinated.
The administrative leave covers the time it takes to travel to the vaccination site, receive the
vaccine dose, and return to work. If an employee needs to spend less time getting the vaccine
dose, only the needed amount of administrative leave should be granted.
Additionally, supervisors must grant leave-eligible employees up to 2 days of administrative
leave to address any side effects related to a recent vaccination.
Employees should obtain advance approval from their supervisor before using administrative
leave for these COVID-19 vaccination-related purposes. Employees should record the
administrative leave on timecards in webTA as “66--Other Leave --Preventative Health Care.”
Note: Employees may not be credited with administrative leave or overtime work for time
spent on these purposes outside their tour of duty.
For further information, please review the CHCO Alert, Updated SBA Guidance for
Administrative Leave for Vaccines, published February 9, 2022.
5.4 Facilitating Physical Distancing and Avoiding Crowding
As the SBA advances through phased reentry, the SBA implemented a hybrid model that maximizes
the benefits of increased telework and onsite work while maintaining the health and safety of all
personnel. To be consistent with Task Force guidance, when COVID-19 Community Levels are MEDIUM
or HIGH, the SBA posts signage encouraging individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to consider
avoiding crowding and to physically distance themselves from others in indoor common areas and
meeting rooms. SBA does not establish facility-level occupancy limits solely for the purpose of
facilitating physical distancing as a COVID-19 prevention action and does not require that individuals
physically distance from others. Breakrooms and conference rooms will continue to have clearly
posted occupancy limits to help facilitate physical distancing and avoiding crowds.
5.5 Self-Conducted Symptom Screening
To be consistent with Task Force guidance, the SBA requires all individuals to complete symptom
screening before entering an SBA facility. SBA employees are also required to complete symptom
screening prior to interacting with members of the public in-person as part of their official
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responsibilities. SBA uses the CDC COVID-19 Facility Access Tool. Symptom screening is self-
conducted and not verified by Agency personnel.
1) No Entry for Individuals with COVID-19 Symptoms or Suspected COVID-19
If an individual has fever or chills, or if they have other new or unexplained symptoms
consistent with COVID-19, such as new or unexplained onset of cough, shortness of breath, or
difficulty breathing; new or unexplained loss of taste or smell; or new or unexplained muscle
aches, they should not enter an SBA workplace. If an individual suspects that they have
COVID-19 because they have new or unexplained COVID-19 symptoms, but they do not yet
have test results, they should not enter an SBA workplace and should get tested if they have
not already done so.
2) Individuals Developing COVID-19 Symptoms While Onsite
Supervisors must require that any individual, regardless of vaccination status, who develops
fever, chills, or other new or unexplained symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or who tests
positive for COVID-19, while onsite during the workday immediately wear a high-quality mask
or respirator and promptly leave the workplace.
5.6 Visitors
Visitors are permitted into SBA facilities, provided they adhere to safety protocols in Table 1: SBA
Safety Protocols Based on COVID-19 Community. When the community level is HIGH, visitors may
enter the facility by appointment when approved by second-line supervisor. When high-quality masks
or respirators are required, program offices may make them available to onsite visitors.
5.7 Contractors
Contractor employees are permitted into SBA workspaces, providing adherence to safety protocols in
Table 1: SBA Safety Protocols Based on COVID-19 Community. When high-quality masks or respirators
are required, program offices may make them available to onsite contractor employees. The
Contracting Officer may determine if high-quality masks or respirators will be included as Government
Furnished Equipment (GFE) for each contract. If GFE is not included, the contractor is responsible for
securing their own high-quality masks or respirators.
5.8 Screening Testing
The SBA no longer has a screening testing requirement. Individuals do not need to undergo regular
screening testing or report a negative COIVD-19 test prior to reporting onsite to an SBA facility or at an
SBA-hosted meeting, event, or conference.
5.9 Reasonable Accommodations Requests Related to COVID-19
It is the SBA’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities
who are SBA employees or applicants for employment, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship
on the operations of the Agency. SBA employees with disabilities encountering a need for new
accommodations due to COVID-19 and/or the agency’s safety protocols may purse the agency’s
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reasonable accommodation process in accordance with SOP 37 17 – Reasonable Accommodation and
Personal Assistance Service Policy and Procedure.
Contractor employees must follow their employers’ reasonable accommodations process.
5.10 OSHA Recordkeeping for COVID-19 Work-Related Incidents
Per OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements, if an employee tests positive for a COVID-19 infection, the
case must be recorded on the OSHA Illness and Injury Log if each of the following conditions are met:
• The case is a confirmed case of COVID-19;
• The case is work-related (as defined by 29 CFR 1904.5); and
• The case involves one or more relevant recording criteria (set forth in 29 CFR 1904.7) (e.g.,
medical treatment beyond first aid, days away from work).
6 Official Travel
There are no Government-wide limits on official travel for SBA employees, regardless of their
vaccination status. Employees should follow SBA’s Travel SOP 20 11 6.
6.1 Supervisor Responsibilities
When approving official travel for employees, supervisors should follow standard COVID-19 pre-travel
instructions, which include:
• Inform the traveling employee that CDC recommends that individuals make sure they are up-
to-date with COVID-19 vaccines before travel;
• Recommend that the traveling employee consider being tested for current infection with a
viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before travel;
• Instruct the traveling employee to adhere strictly to CDC guidance for domestic and
international travel before, during, and after official travel;
• Instruct the traveling employee to check their destination’s COVID-19 Community Level before
traveling and to wear a high-quality mask or respirator while on-duty and around others
indoors at their destination, if the COVID-19 Community Level in the county where their
destination is located is HIGH;
• Instruct the traveling employee to make sure they understand and follow all travel restrictions
put in place by state, tribal, local, and territorial governments; and
• Advise the traveling employee to prepare to be flexible, as restrictions, policies, and
circumstances may change during their travel.
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6.2 Travel for Employees with Known Exposure
For asymptomatic employees who have had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 within the
past 10 days, supervisors may approve official travel, consistent with SBA’s Travel SOP 20 11 6.
1) Employee Remains without COVID-19 Symptoms Before Travel
The supervisor must instruct the individual to, in addition to the standard COVID-19 pre-travel
instructions stated above in Section 5.1, take the following precautions:
• Wear a high-quality mask or respirator the entire time they are on-duty and around others
indoors for the full duration of their travel that falls within the 10 full days after their last
known exposure;
• Not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if they will not be
able to wear a high-quality mask or respirator when around others indoors for the full
duration of their travel within the 10 full days after their last known exposure; and
• Follow other aspects of post-exposure protocols, including the requirement for individuals
with a known exposure to be tested for COVID-19 after 5 full days following their last
known exposure (ideally, on or after day 6):
o Testing may need to occur while the employee is traveling.
o Supervisors do not need to require that the employee wait for the results of this
post-exposure diagnostic test to undertake official travel, including return travel.
2) Employee Develops COVID-19 symptoms after Approved Official Travel
The supervisor must instruct the employee not to undertake further official travel, including
under a previously approved travel authorization, and to instead follow agency protocols
outlined in Section 5.3 Travel for Employees with COVID-19 Symptoms or a Positive COVID-19
Test.
6.3 Travel for Employees with COVID-19 Symptoms or a Positive COVID-19
Test
Supervisors must not approve official travel: (1) for employees who have COVID-19 symptoms and are
waiting for an initial diagnostic viral test result; and (2) for employees who have tested positive for
COVID-19 for at least 5 full days after their first day of symptoms, or after the date of the initial positive
diagnostic viral test for asymptomatic individuals.
If an employee who tested positive for COVID-19 has returned to working onsite at an agency
workplace or interacting with members of the public as part of their official responsibilities (once they
are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their other symptoms are
improving), then the supervisors may approve official travel for the employee. The supervisor must
instruct the traveling employee, in addition to other standard COVID-19 pre-travel instructions, to
follow the precautions in Section 5.2(1) and post-isolation precautions.
If after official travel has been approved, the employee’s COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen,
supervisors must instruct the employee to not undertake further official travel, including under any
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previously approved travel authorization and, again, not to enter an SBA facility or interact with
members of the public as part of their official responsibilities, restarting at day 0 of isolation
protocols.
7 Meetings, Events, and Conferences
There are no Government-wide restrictions for agency-hosted meetings, events, and conferences.
All in-person attendees at any meetings, conferences, or events hosted by SBA must comply with
relevant COVID-19 safety protocols, including as it relates to any mask wearing when COVID-19
Community Levels are HIGH.
SBA staff attending in-person meetings on-duty must adhere to guidance in Table 1: SBA Safety
Protocols Based on COVID-19 Community Levels and follow any local requirements.
8 Post-Exposure Precautions, Isolation, and Post-Isolation
Precautions
1) Post-Exposure Precautions
Pursuant to E.O. 13991 and consistent with CDC guidance, supervisors must instruct
individuals who are known to have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, regardless of
their vaccination status, to adhere to the following post-exposure precautions:
• Wear a high-quality mask or respirator while indoors at an agency workplace or
interacting indoors with members of the public in-person as part of their official
responsibilities as soon as possible after notification of exposure and continue to do so for
10 full days from the date they were last known to have been exposed;
• Take extra precautions, such as avoiding crowding and physically distancing from others,
when they know they are around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-
19 while onsite at an agency workplace or interacting with members of the public in-
person as part of their official responsibilities, for 10 full days from the date they were last
known to have been exposed. (For purposes of calculating the 10 full days, day 0 is the day
of their last known exposure to someone with COVID-19, and day 1 is the first full day after
their last known exposure.); and
• Watch for COVID-19 symptoms for 10 full days from the date they were last known to have
been exposed. (For purposes of calculating the 10 full days, day 0 is the day of their last
known exposure to someone with COVID-19, and day 1 is the first full day after their last
known exposure.)
2) Required Testing for Those Known to Have Been Exposed
As part of agency testing protocols, and pursuant to E.O. 13991 and consistent with CDC
guidance, supervisors must require that employees and contractor employees who are known
to have been exposed to COVID-19 and are onsite at an agency workplace or interacting with
members of the public in-person as part of their official responsibilities be tested for current
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infection with a viral test at least 5 full days after their last known exposure (ideally, on or after
day 6).
• The test can be both self-administered and self-read by the employee. The supervisor
should have the employee certify as to when they took the test and that they received a
negative result.
• If the individual tests negative, the supervisor must instruct the individual to continue to
follow the above post-exposure precautions for 10 full days from the date they were last
known to have been exposed. If they test positive, or if they at any time develop COVID-19
symptoms, they must follow agency protocols on isolation.
If the individual that has been known to be exposed to COVID-19 is not working onsite at an
agency workplace or interacting with members of the public in-person as part of their official
responsibilities within 10 days of the known exposure, then they are not required to be tested.
If the individual that has been known to be exposed to COVID-19 had tested positive for
COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 30 days and subsequently recovered and
remains without COVID-19 symptoms, then they do not need to get tested after a known
exposure. If the individual that had been known to be exposed to COVID-19 had tested positive
for COVID-19 with a viral test within the previous 31-90 days and subsequently recovered and
remains without COVID-19 symptoms, then they should be tested using a viral antigen test.
3) Returning to Working Onsite at an Agency Workplace After Isolation
Any individual with probable or confirmed COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status,
must not enter an SBA facility or interact with members of the public in-person as part of their
official responsibilities, and must monitor their symptoms. An employee may end isolation
based on how serious their COVID-19 symptoms were. The below table outlines confirmed
COVID-19 scenarios and guidelines for supervisors to determine when the individual may
return to working onsite at an SBA facility or interacting with members of the public as part of
their official responsibilities.
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Confirmed COVID-19 Scenario When to Return Working Onsite/Public
Engagement Guidelines
Tested positive for COVID-19 and never After 5 full days following their positive COVID-
developed symptoms 19 test (day 0 being the day the individual was
tested).
Tested positive for COVID-19 and had After 5 full days from the onset of symptoms
symptoms (day 0 being the day of symptom onset) once
they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use
of fever-reducing medication and their other
symptoms are improving.
Moderate illness (if they experienced After full 10 days.
shortness of breath or had difficulty
breathing) or severe illness (if they were
hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or they have a
weakened immune system
Severe illness due to COVID-19 or has a Individual should consult their healthcare
weakened immune system provider before ending isolation.
Once an individual has returned to working onsite at an agency workplace or interacting with
members of the public as part of their official responsibilities, the supervisor must instruct the
individual to continue to take post-isolation precautions consistent with CDC guidance for at least 10
full days after their first day of symptoms, or after the date of a positive viral test for asymptomatic
individuals. Post-isolation precautions include:
• Wear a high-quality mask or respirator when around others:
o Supervisors may also inform such individuals that they can opt to take two viral
antigen tests authorized by the FDA to detect current COVID-19 infection, starting on
day 6. With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, the individual may remove
their mask sooner than day 10.
o If either of their antigen test results are positive, the individual should continue taking
antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until they have two sequential negative results.
This may mean that the individual would continue wearing a mask and testing beyond
day 10.
• Avoid eating and drinking around others.
• Avoid environments such as dining facilities, gyms, or other places where they may need to be
unmasked around others.
• Avoid being around people who they know are at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19.
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If at any point their COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, agencies must instruct the individual again
not to enter a Federal facility or interact with members of the public as part of their official
responsibilities, restarting at day 0, consistent with E.O. 13991 and CDC recommendations on
isolation and the protocols set forth by the SBA.
All medical information collected from employees, including vaccination information, test results, and
any other information obtained as a result of testing and symptom monitoring, will be treated in
accordance with applicable laws and policies on confidentiality and privacy, and will be accessible
only to those with a need to know. The SBA will consult with its Senior Agency Officials for Privacy on
matters related to the collection and handling of personally identifiable information and identify a
point of contact for all questions relating to personal medical information.
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APPENDIX A: References Incorporated COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Plan 11/2022
Resource Date Format
New implementation guidance on updates to Federal agency COVID-
19 Workplace Safety Protocols. Updated implementation guidance
on COVID-19 Community Levels. Updated FAQs related to compliance August 17, SWFTF
with the applicable preliminary nationwide injunction on 2022 Website
implementation and enforcement of the vaccination requirement
pursuant to Executive Order 14043
August 12, COO Alert
Updated CDC COVID-19 Guidance and SBA COVID-19 Safety Protocols
2022 Email
CDC
CDC streamlines COVID-19 guidance to help the public better protect August 11,
Newsroom
themselves and understand their risk 2022
Press Release
Updated COVID-19 Guidance from Safer Federal Workforce Task July 18, COO Alert
Force 2022 Email
COVID-19 Reminders: Safety Protocols, Reporting, and Vaccination- June 28, COO Alert
Related Leave 2022 Email
New and updated FAQS on exceptions, leave, mask-wearing, official June 3, SWFTF
travel, and testing 2022 Website
Updated FAQs on contractors, quarantine and isolation, symptom June 3, SWFTF
screening, vaccinations, and visitors 2022 Website
May 27, SWFTF
Updated Certification of Vaccination form
2022 Website
March 11, SWFTF
New FAQs on visitors
2022 Website
March 11, SWFTF
Updated FAQs on vaccinations and contractors
2022 Website
February CHCO Alert
Updated SBA Guidance for Administrative Leave for Vaccines
9, 2022 Email
Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (SWFTF):
n.d. Website
https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/
Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, “COVID-19 Workplace Safety: September
PDF
Agency Model Safety Principles” 15, 2022
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Resource Date Format
Executive Order 14042: “Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols September Executive
for Federal Contractors” 9, 2021 Order
Executive Order 14043: “Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 September Executive
Vaccination for Federal Employees” 9, 2021 Order
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File and source
- File
- 2023-01_2022-12-14-SBA-COVID-Workplace-Safety-Plan-Final-Task-Approved_REVISED.pdf
- Size
- 2,075,197 bytes
- SHA-256
- 5dd026e84145d1e3ce2100cbbe2fdefdde70803cd41012b127c3c50be5c04bde
- Original
- www.sba.gov