Floridian restaurant workers who tested positive for COVID-19 are now able to return to work without testing negative first.
What We Know:
- Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Wednesday that said Floridians who tested positive for COVID-19 can return to work without testing negative.
- Before, employees were required to pass two coronavirus tests before going back to work and this executive order lifted that requirement. Instead of the two test results, employees will undergo the “employee screening protocols” suggested by the CDC. The screening protocols ask employers to encourage their employees who are sick or got in close contact with a person with COVID-19 to stay home. The CDC also has new guidelines where the 14-day quarantine is now reduced to 10 days.
- The CDC softened its restrictions to reduce the unnecessary use of laboratory resources but they still recommend any non-healthcare business to enforce face masks, social distancing, hand cleaning, and facility cleaning procedures.
- Some, like John Nesbit, a manager at Deerfield Beach waterfront restaurant Two Georges at the Cove, agree with the governor about allowing workers with COVID-19 to return to work faster because of their financial needs. “These guidelines are a good thing because some people test positive but show no symptoms,” Nesbit said. “A lot of people are struggling right now and need to be paid. Still, you don’t want people coming back who are sick.”
- But for co-owner of Mazie’s in West Palm Beach Jason Lakow, allowing workers who tested positive to go back to work is “nonsensical”. “Fourteen days is not a one-size-fits-all quarantine period,” he said. “This is very nearsighted if the goal was to produce results more quickly, because you’re sacrificing safety.”
The executive order only applies to restaurants in Florida and the CDC does encourage employers to enforce rules to prevent the spread of the virus.
