What if a staff member or client is diagnosed with COVID-19?

24 Mar What if a staff member or client is diagnosed with COVID-19?

Coronavirus Veterinarian Clinic Guidance
Kentucky Department for Public Health

What if a Veterinary staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19?

• No one should work while ill
• The local health department (LHD) will be given the results
• The LHD will follow up with the positive patient
• The patient will be either:
  1. Be hospitalized
  2. Isolated at home if not ill enough to be hospitalized
  3. To be released from isolation:
     • A minimum of 7 days since onset of symptoms
     • Have all symptoms resolved
     • Be 72 hours fever free (without antipyretics)
• Contacts will be investigated and a risk assessment is done to determine the risk of each employee
• LHD will determine if anyone is at high risk and needs a 14 days quarantine
• Different LHD’s have different capacity for monitoring, so some may be monitored daily and some may not
• Staff should consider:
  1. Practice social distancing during work hours to minimize risk
  2. Take temperatures of employees at the beginning of the workday, send anyone home with a fever to prevent exposures
• Maintain Social distancing with clients
  1. Curbside pick-up and drop off for pets
  2. Consider telemedicine, as appropriate, with clients with established vet-client-patient relationship

What if a client is diagnosed with COVID-19?

• To date, there is no evidence that domestic animals can get sick or are able to transmit COVID 19
• Recommend a healthy person bring the animal in but avoid unnecessary procedures or visits
• Staff that brings the animal into the clinic, should wear gloves, eye, and respiratory protection
• Notification to the State Public Health Veterinarian is not required, but is available if you have questions: 502-682-4048
• Cleaning is accomplished with standard cleaning and disinfecting products. Follow instructions, especially contact time. Focus on high touch areas.