Coronavirus (COVID-19) and City Workers

Screening Safely

If employees are being screened for COVID-19 onsite, follow these safety tips:

• Maintain 6 feet of distance between employees who are waiting to be screened
• Require face coverings for screeners and employees if they can medically tolerate them
• Screen in a location that is not a confined space
• Design a way to screen that prevents others from hearing what is being said and to minimize others from observing screenings
• Incorporate social distancing or physical barriers, such as a plexiglass barrier, to minimize the screener’s and the employee’s exposure during the screening

Temperature Checks

Workplaces are not required to check employee temperatures. If, however, you decide to conduct temperature checks:

• Use a non-contact thermometer, such as an infrared forehead thermometer or infrared scanner.
• Don't use oral or tympanic thermometers (tympanic thermometers use a probe that goes in the ear).
• When non-contact thermometers are used and the screener does not have physical contact with an employee, gloves do not need to be changed before the next check.
• Keep a supply of alcohol wipes in the screening area to sanitize equipment that inadvertently comes in contact with screened employees.
• Clean after each employee is screened if there is contact.

Results

If the screening tool indicates an employee does not currently have symptoms, they must still continue practicing social distancing, wearing face coverings, and hand washing.

If the screening tool indicates an employee has one or more symptoms of COVID-19, they must not report to work.

Documentation

All information collected from employees must be kept confidential and can only be maintained in the employee’s medical or health file, in the same way as the employer maintains medical notes for leave purposes.

Keep these records separate from the employee’s personnel file.

Antibody Tests

Antibody tests for COVID-19 can't be used to detect whether someone is currently sick or infected. It is also unknown if a positive antibody test means that someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again. Antibody tests should not be used to decide whether someone should or should not work.

Further Assistance

The City's updated face covering guidance for City employees went into effect on Monday, March 7, 2022.

Masks are still mandatory:

• When interacting with members of the public in an indoor setting
• During days 6 to 10 after infection with COVID-19 upon returning to the work site

Masks are strongly recommended: 

• When the employee is not fully vaccinated
• When employees are interacting in close quarters, such as in shared meeting spaces, elevators and building lobbies
• When the employee has been in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19 (but not required to quarantine) for 10 days following exposure

Learn more about "Return to Office" guidance.

For more information, contact your Agency's Human Resources office.

Complaints

You can report a City agency not complying with "Return to Office" guidelines.

City Employees

All City workers and new hires are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Contact your agency’s human resources department if you have any questions about the mandate.

Learn more about vaccine mandates for City workers.

Get information about vaccination mandate policies for labor unions.

DOE Employees

All DOE employees — including teachers, principals, custodians, and all central office staff — were required to provide proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by October 1. To learn more about the DOE vaccine mandate, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Schools page.

City Contractors

As of November 1, covered City contractors and subcontractors are required to provide proof to their employer of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

This includes individuals who work:

• In a human services, health care, or educational setting
• Alongside City employees

Contracted employees who aren't working in human services, health care, or educational settings, but interact physically with City employees or members of the public, may choose to undergo weekly testing instead of vaccination.

These covered employees must comply, but organizations are encouraged to apply the same policy to all of their employees.

Contact your employer if you have any questions about the mandate.