Departmental Guidance for COVID-19

Precautions – protect yourself and others

Get vaccinated
Wear a mask
Stay six (6) feet (2 arm lengths) away from others
Avoid crowds
Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer often for at least 20 seconds
Cover coughs and sneezes
Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces daily
Be alert for symptoms

Symptoms to look for:

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. The list below are some common symptoms but does not include all possible symptoms.

Fever or 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

Exposure criteria:

Anyone that is within six (6) feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period.

Employee reports that they have been exposed to a positive individual:

Isolate the employee and email covid-19hr@tuscaloosa.comor text 205-534-8637 (Melissa) with:

Employee name
Relation of the positive individual (friend, co-worker, household member, etc.)
Date the employee last had contact with the positive individual
Date the individual tested positive. We will require a copy of the individual’s test results.
A determination will be made as to whether the employee can continue to work.

Employee reports that a household member has been tested:

Isolate that employee from others and email covid-19hr@tuscaloosa.comor text 205-534-8637 (Melissa) with the employees name and whether they are symptomatic/asymptomatic. A determination will be made as to whether the employee can continue to work.

What does fully vaccinated mean?

People are considered fully vaccinated:

2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If these requirements are not met, regardless of age, the individual is NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautionsuntil fully vaccinated.

Employee requests to work remotely due to concerns of COVID-19 surge:

Remote work requests are subject to the approval/denial of the department head if such request is not medically related. If the request is approved, the details should be reported to covid-19hr@tuscaloosa.com for tracking purposes. If the request is medically related, email covid-19hr@tuscaloosa.com for evaluation and a determination.

NOTE: Please remember that employee medical/health information must be protected at all times. This includes vaccination status.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I protect myself and others from getting COVID-19?

Get vaccinated
Wear a mask
Stay six (6) feet (2 arm lengths) away from others
Avoid crowds
Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer often for at least 20 seconds
Cover coughs and sneezes
Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces daily
Be alert for symptoms

If I have had COVID-19 and recovered, should I get vaccinated?

The CDC recommends getting vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. Talk with your physician if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Where can I get a vaccine?

Please visit this link to find a location near you Vaccines.gov - Find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you For information on the different vaccines, side effects and safety – visit Vaccines for COVID-19 | CDC

When am I considered to be fully vaccinated?

People are considered fully vaccinated:

2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. The list below are some common symptoms but does not include all possible symptoms.

Fever or 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

What should I do if I am experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed?

Stay home/isolate yourself from others and report the illness to your supervisor immediately. Your supervisor will contact Incident Command- HR via email (covid-19hr@tuscaloosa.com) for further instruction.

If I am sick, will I be tested for COVID-19?

If you are exhibiting symptoms, you will likely be sent for evaluation and possible COVID-19 testing. Incident Command-HR will evaluate the situation and provide instruction. If sent for testing, you will be asked to obtain a rapid as well as a PCR test.

What should I do if I have a household member that is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms?

It is recommended that the household member visit their physician for evaluation. If the household member is tested, you should report the information to your supervisor immediately. Your supervisor will contact Incident Command- HR via email (covid-19hr@tuscaloosa.com) for further instruction.

What should I do if I am notified that I have been exposed to an individual that has tested positive for COVID-19?

Report the exposure to your supervisor immediately. Your supervisor will contact Incident Command- HR via email (covid-19hr@tuscaloosa.com) for further instruction.

What does exposure or close contact mean?