COVID 19 Update: Policy changes as of Sept. 1

The OSHEM COVID Program reports on policy changes beginning Sept.1

The CDC recently shifted their pandemic strategy which changes the way COVID is managed in the workplace. With their new guidance, much of the responsibility for COVID risk reduction regarding vaccination, testing, and exposure is now placed on individual employees.

A major element of the new CDC recommendations is that vaccination status is no longer a factor to determine post-exposure actions – those unvaccinated, fully vaccinated, and boosted should all take the same safety measures if they have been exposed to the virus. The new CDC recommendations also stress personal responsibility, including doing your part to slow the spread of the illness in the workplace and beyond. If you contract COVID you should notify your contacts of potential exposure.

Because actions no longer differ by vaccination status, beginning tomorrow, August 23:

• The Smithsonian will suspend collection of proof-of-vaccination documentation for employees and affiliates. If you have already sent in your vaccination detail to OHS, they will keep that data in your medical file.
• COTRs no longer need to confirm contractor vaccination status or proof of a negative test when accessing an SI facility. We will be updating the contractor guidance documents in the coming weeks.
• We will no longer require weekly testing of unvaccinated employees.

Beginning September 1:

• We will no longer require official visitors, event guests, and program participants attending Smithsonian-sponsored activities to show proof of vaccination or negative test results. Smithsonian hosts of official visitors and events shall cease asking for this documentation.

·        Occupational Health Services (OHS) will cease contact tracing and will no longer require primary contacts to report their status. OHS still requests that anyone in the SI community who tests positive for COVID report their case to SI-CoronavirusInfo@si.edu. When a staff member reports a positive case, OHS will provide that person with instructions for isolation and return-to-work protocols. OHS will also include advice for them to pass along to anyone who may have been exposed.

Guidance will be provided in an upcoming SI-Wide email for members of the Smithsonian community who have been exposed to COVID-19 (been told they are primary contacts) through friends, family, colleagues, or others. Updated guidance will also be added to the COVID PRISM website and in revised Daily Health Screening Questions.

As has been true since the beginning of the pandemic, we all have a role to play in keeping each other healthy – these changes just remind us of that responsibility.

If you have questions, please contact the OSHEM COVID Program at SI-CoronavirusInfo@si.edu.

Stay COVID Safe,

OSHEM COVID Program

s.si.edu/COVID-19

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