The South Carolina Police Chiefs Association has provided guidance on the management of law enforcement officers exposed to an individual with COVID-19 as well as law enforcement officers diagnosed with COVID-19.
Brief Guidance for Management of a Law Enforcement Officer Exposed to an Individual with COVID-19:
The SC Police Chiefs Association recommends to assess the level and duration of contact and whether the officer was wearing personal protective equipment or a mask. "Close contact" is being within six feet of someone for longer than roughly 10 minutes (or being spit/coughed/sneezed directly on) without PPE or a mask. The level of risk should be determined based on this information. No close contact equals low risk. It is acceptable to continue to work but the individual's temperature should be taken at the start and end of each shift until 14 days after exposure. High risk is being in close contact without PPE or a mask or being spit, coughed, or sneezed directly on, and that officer would need to self-quarantine for 14 days. Medium risk is the gray zone in between and those cases can be discussed and decided on in consultation with someone from the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Brief Guidance for Management of a Law Enforcement Officer Diagnosed with COVID-19:
The person should self-isolate until all of these criteria are met:
- At least seven days have passed since symptoms began.
- At least three days have passed without fever (and without use of medications to lower fever, such as Tylenol or Advil).
- Cough and/or shortness of breath (if present) do not have to be gone completely but must be improving.
For additional guidance visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-law-enforcement.html.