My coworker tested positive for coronavirus, now what?

Is it safe to go to work?

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Businesses in Arizona are officially up and running again during the pandemic.

As the coronavirus continues to infect members of the community, possibly those in your workplace, you ask yourself, am I safe?

According to the Yuma County Health Department (YCHD), it is safe to report to work if you have to, as long as you follow the necessary protocols. However, if an employer is able to allow it's employees to work from home, they recommend for them to do so.

The necessary protocols include constantly washing your hands, keeping a six feet distance away from others, and wearing a mask to help avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

As the coronavirus continues to infect those in the community, it's possible someone in your workplace could have been exposed to the virus.

YCHD says if a person has tested positive for the coronavirus, that person must self isolate themselves until they don't show symptoms for at least three days.

If an infected person has reported to work, an employer must only notify staff who has come in contact with the infected employee.

YCHD says that an employer does not have to tell the employees who this specific infected person is, just the possibility that they have been infected and need to monitor themselves for symptoms.

If symptoms appear that employee should also get tested and self isolate.

Health Department officials confirm an employer is not required to tell all of its employees about the infected person, only the ones who have been in contact.

Neither is the employer required to completely shut down after one of its employees' tests positive.

One of the conditions of businesses being able to reopen is constant cleaning and sanitization to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading within the workplace. This should happen daily, which is why businesses aren't required by YCHD to completely close their doors when someone tests positive.

Businesses who do decide to get it's workplace professionally cleaned and sanitized, is by their own choice.

If anyone has any questions regarding their workplace and necessary protocols that must be followed are encouraged to call YCHD at 928-317-4550.