OSHA-CDC Guidelines for Reopening
Criteria
The following criteria should be satisfied before proceeding to phased opening. The National Governors Association also provides a summary of the six public health criteria in gating plans.
Below are proposed state or regional gating criteria.
Symptoms
- Downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported within a 14-day period; and
- Downward trajectory of COVID-like syndromic cases reported within a 14-day period
Cases
- Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period; or
- Downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests)
Hospitals
- Treat all patients without crisis care; and
- Robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing
State and local officials may need to tailor the application of these criteria to local circumstances (e.g., metropolitan areas that have suffered severe COVID outbreaks, rural and suburban areas where outbreaks have not occurred or have been mild). Additionally, where appropriate, Governors should work on a regional basis to satisfy these criteria and to progress through the three phases.
Core State Preparedness Responsibilities
Under the guidelines, each state has core preparedness responsibilities for testing and contact tracing, healthcare system capacity, and planning.
Testing and Contact Tracing
- Ability to quickly set up safe and efficient screening and testing sites for symptomatic individuals and trace contacts of COVID+ results
- Ability to test Syndromic/ILI-indicated persons for COVID and trace contacts of COVID+ results
- Ensure sentinel surveillance sites are screening for asymptomatic cases and contacts for COVID+ results are traced (sites operate at locations that serve older individuals, lower-income Americans, racial minorities, and Native Americans)
Healthcare System Capacity
- Ability to quickly and independently supply sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)and critical medical equipment to handle dramatic surge in need
- Ability to surge ICU capacity
Plans
- Protect the health and safety of workers in critical industries
- Protect the health and safety of those living and working in high-risk facilities (e.g., senior care facilities)
- Protect employees and users of mass transit
- Advise citizens regarding protocols for social distancing and face coverings
- Monitor conditions and immediately take steps to limit and mitigate any rebounds or outbreaks by restarting a phase or returning to an earlier phase, depending on severity
CDC Proposed Phased Approach
The CDC Proposed Phased Approach to reopening is based on up-to-date data and readiness information. It mitigates the risk of resurgence, and protects the most vulnerable individuals. The approach can be implemented on a statewide or county-by-county basis at the governors' discretion.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-2. Who determines if the CDC Three-Phase approach is implemented on a county-by-county or statewide basis?
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