COVID-19 Update: What to do if you have a positive test result

This message provides guidance on the procedures to follow when a Smithsonian community member has a positive COVID-19 test. Please note, due to the limited testing capacity at public health laboratories, many people with COVID-19 like symptoms may not be able to get tested. This message also provides guidance on the procedures to follow if no testing is performed.

If you have been tested for COVID-19 and receive a positive result, you should:

• Stay home and get well. Follow your healthcare provider’s advice.
• Notify the Coronavirus Response team of the positive test result by following the procedure at the end of this message. The response team will contact you. We request individuals wait before alerting any colleagues until you have spoken to a response team member.

Waiting until you are contacted by the response team will not only protect the health of your colleagues but also will ensure that accurate follow-up and advice are provided. We do not want to spread undue fear and anxiety through the community.

The response team member will ask a few questions about where you work and who you came into contact with during the two weeks before you started having symptoms.  Your answers will be used to help prevent spread to others, and your privacy will be protected.

If your unit requires a medical note prior to returning to work, try to get the note on the same day you visit your provider to avoid having to return in person to the waiting room after you have recovered.  In general, you should not return to onsite work until your symptoms have been gone for at least 24 hours.

If you’re a supervisor and someone notifies you that they have tested positive, you should:

• Ensure that the employee goes home, if they have come into work.
• Notify the Coronavirus Response team (please see the procedure at end of this message). Ensure that you know how to support that person through the COVID-19 specific Human Resources guidance that can be found in FAQs on the Smithsonian COVID-19 Response Team website.
• Wait on alerting any of the other employees under your supervision until the Coronavirus Response team follows up with you. The team will walk you through the next steps to minimize any undue fear or anxiety related to the follow up procedure.

If you’re sick and have been told to stay home by a health care provider, but have NOT been tested for COVID-19, you should:

• Stay home and get well. Follow your healthcare providers advice.
• Notify the Coronavirus Response team for updated recommendations and visit the coronavirus website. As of 3/16/2020 you are only considered a COVID-19 case if have received a positive diagnosis through laboratory testing. .
• Please closely follow the coronavirus precautions during any illness even if you have not received a lab-confirmed diagnosis. There are CDC guidelines to help you prevent sharing COVID-19 with the people who live with you.

How to notify the Coronavirus response team of a positive COVID-19 person

During normal business hours: E-mail  si-coronavirusinfo@si.edu, with the subject POSITIVE TEST. Please include a description of what you are reporting to the inbox, and a phone number you can be reached at, and a team member will respond to you within an hour.

After hours or on the weekends: E-mail the si-coronavirusinfo@si.edu, with the subject POSITIVE TEST. Please include a description of what you are reporting, and a phone number you can be reached at, to the inbox and a team member will respond to you within an hour.

In addition to e-mailing: please call the 24-hour Smithsonian Communications Center at 202-633-9300 so the SI Public Health Officer can be notified.

Additional Resources

The Occupational Health clinics at the Zoo, African American History and Culture, the American History Museum, the Natural History Museum (Monday and Tuesday only) and the Air and Space Museum will be staffed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  will be staffed. Hours at the Zoo may vary according to Zoo staff hours. First aid support will be available at the NZP Health Unit and NMNH Health Unit on the weekends.  Contact Occupational Health Services at 202-633-9355 for questions about hours and appointments.

OHS is supporting the COVID-19 Response teams with contact tracing. Everyone is asked to go through the resource account if you are concerned about a positive case, positive contact or have other COVID-19 questions.  If you are sick with a flu-like illness, please call the OHS clinic prior to reporting to the clinic. We want to reduce possible exposure by not concentrating persons experiencing symptoms in the waiting room.

You can email your medical documentation to OHS-MedicalReview@si.edu to have it placed confidentially into your occupational health record and a Duty Disposition Report* will be sent to you and your supervisor.

*A DDR or Duty Disposition Report is a note from Smithsonian Occupational Health Services that is issued with the goal of improving communication between treating providers and supervisors- while protecting the privacy of the worker.  You can get a DDR if you are placed in quarantine, have documentation that a family member is ill with COVID-19 if you need to stay home to take care of them.

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