Maine CDC Issues Updated HCP Work Restriction Guidance

• By: Maureen Carland
• On: 09/04/2025 12:18:00
• In: Quality/Regulatory

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has released interim guidance for health care personnel (HCP) regarding illness or exposure to respiratory viral infections such as COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. This guidance builds on recommendations from the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) to help health care facilities prepare for the fall and winter respiratory virus season. The goal is to balance the need to prevent transmission in clinical settings with the challenges posed by staffing shortages.

Key recommendations include temporary work restrictions, also known as work exclusion, for HCP with suspected or confirmed viral respiratory infections. Staff should stay out of work until at least three days after symptom onset (or a positive test if asymptomatic), be fever-free for 24 hours without medication, show improving symptoms, and feel well enough to return. Upon return, they should wear a well-fitted mask through day 7. For those with exposures but no symptoms, work restriction is not required, but source control and symptom monitoring are recommended for five days.

The guidance also advises facilities to consider additional precautions for HCP caring for highly vulnerable patients, and to consult occupational health for return-to-work decisions involving immunocompromised or severely ill staff. Broader infection control strategies—such as early detection, limiting spread from patients and visitors, universal prevention measures, and vaccination—remain essential.

Read the full guidance here
 
Staff contact: mcarland@mehca.org