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City Employee COVID-19
This webpage contains information for City of Winona employees regarding COVID-19. Employees will be responsible to contact their supervisor or department head and HR regarding a positive COVID test result.
The City does not require employees to use any specific type of test (over the counter or PCR lab test). Any cost associated with testing will be incurred by the employee.
General Guidance
The City will follow Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidance for COVID-19. The guidance applies if you test positive, have been exposed and have symptoms, or have been exposed and have no symptoms.
Contact your supervisor or department head to discuss your specific situation. Your supervisor or department head will consider staffing levels of the department, and/or general nature of your work duties.
This guidance is based on MDH recommendations.
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If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you have no symptoms (MDH Guidance)
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Exposed is:
- Experienced a known close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 cumulative minutes or more in the previous 24-hour period from last contact.
Close Contact is:
- In an enclosed room with or without the door open regardless of distance; or
- Within six feet of another person outside; or
- In a vehicle; and
- Unmasked, improperly wearing a mask, or not wearing a proper mask.
At All Times:
If an employee returns to work on day six following a COVID positive test, the employee must wear a mask at all times, no exceptions, while working through day 10. This includes:
- Working in an office alone.
- Being in a vehicle alone. Vehicle must also be sanitized at the end of the shift.
- No lunch breaks or eating with other employees.
An alternative to this strict masking guidance is to continue remote work or use personal paid leave through day 10.
Counting Days:
Days are counted from date of of test. Test date is day 0, next day is day 1. I.e. test taken on Saturday means day 5 is Thursday.
At Home Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests
- Are not the same as a lab PCR test
- Can be taken anywhere
- Give results within 15 minutes
- Work whether or not you have COVID-19 symptoms
- Work whether or not you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines
- Are also referred to as self-tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests
Order FREE test kits
- Through COVID.gov. Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2, 2022 because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nations stockpile of tests.
- Minnesota Covid-19 Response for Minnesota residents.
- WI Department of Health Services for Wisconsin residents.
Obtaining at-home test kits from pharmacy using personal insurance
To receive a test kit at no cost, go to a store with a pharmacy and bring the test kit to the pharmacy counter (not the front register). Show your personal medical insurance ID card for the pharmacy to process the payment. Beginning Saturday, January 15, 2022 and continuing through the end of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency, personal medical insurance will cover the cost of up to eight (8) at-home rapid COVID-19 tests without a prescription or clinical assessment every 30 calendar days.
When to use an at-home test
City HR will accept at-home tests to confirm virus status. However, at-home tests can result in a false negative result. Employees should use an at-home test when symptoms are present and/or 5 days after a close contact with a COVID positive person. Administering an at-home test too soon can result in inaccurate results because the virus is not prevalent enough at that time.
If an employee has symptoms, has had a known close contact in the last 2-3 days, and the at-home test provides a negative test result, the employee may take a second at home test 5 days after close contact, or take a confirmatory PCR lab test which is more sensitive in the early stage of COVID. PCR lab tests will be processed through individual insurance and any out of pocket cost associated with taking the test will be incurred by the employee.
Learn more about at-home tests at CDC Self-Testing.
If you need to send documentation to HR, use this form to submit your documents securely.
- Click the link below to enter the secure submission website
Online Form Submission - Enter required fields then click “Continue”
- Drag your file into the box or browse to where you stored the form on your device.
- Click “Upload”
- DONE!
- You will receive a confirmation email.
HEALTH ALERT
Employees should contact their supervisor or department head and HR to to report a positive test result.