Coronavirus Information and FAQs

Click here for information about the Office of the Attending Physician's testing program for SARS CoV2 coronavirus detection.

Click here for the most recent issued guidance for House offices.

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Information about the coronavirus is changing rapidly. For the most up to date and authoritative information about the coronavirus, symptoms, prevention and treatment, and the CDC’s response, please refer to the CDC website. The Committee on House Administration (CHA) recommends that Members and their staff monitor the official social media platforms of your state and local government and health officials for the most current information specific to your districts.

For additional information of particular interest to the House community, please visit the website of the Office of the Attending Physician. In particular, CHA encourages Members and staff to watch the videos recorded by the Attending Physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, which answer frequently asked questions and address practical prevention techniques. Those videos are available below and on OAP’s website.

Resources:

Prevention

The Office of Attending Physician (OAP) in concert with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, and state and local health departments continues to aggressively monitor and engage the current COVID-19 coronavirus threat. While general recommendations and updates may be found at the OAP website via Senate, House, Architect of the Capitol and Capitol Police intranet sites, the following mitigation actions are prudent to reinforce at this time. These suggestions reflect best judgement of an evolving circumstance that may require revision as more experience with the SARS-CoV-2 infection is gained.

Pandemic Social Distancing and Daily Health Screening Implementation Guidelines for Congressional Offices and Work Centers (10/23/2020)

The following guidelines provide for Pandemic Social Distancing and Daily Health Screening implementation in Congressional workplaces. These guidelines, version 3.3, are based on current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention best practices to minimize risk of coronavirus transmission in the workplace through use of social distancing measures, face cover wear, daily screening of employee health prior to reporting for duty, incorporate aerosol based viral transmission considerations, and incorporate the recent cumulative minutes of exposure to a COVID 19 case rules with regard to quarantine decisions. These guidelines contain hyperlinks to primary references indicated in the text that you can utilize with the electronic version of this document. Wearing an approved, well-fitted, face covering, when in the company of another person, is a critical necessity while occupying an indoor space at the Capitol. COVID 19 disease features in our region have shown recent increases in rates of hospitalizations, and new cases, similar to many regions of the United States that continue to experience a relentless and unequalled burden of disease and death from coronavirus.

Reduce the Number of Staff in the Work Center. Each Office (Member office, Committee group, Support office) should continue to commit to established social distancing guidelines when considering in office staffing plans. In circumstances where social distancing standards are unable to be met in an office space, emphasis should be placed on limiting the number of personnel physically present in a work center.
Use Telework or Staggered Schedules. Office Staff in excess of the maximum occupancy of the work center (see section 5.1) should be in a telework status. Telework status is among the best options to limit individual risk of disease from workplace encounters.
Use of Face Covers.
1. Current Evidence and Consensus. Additional information has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, international public health organizations, regional government officials, scientific organizations and private industry that better inform best practices and the case for individual mask (a face covering consisting of a surgical mask or a cloth based mask that covers the nose and mouth completely) use.
2. Encouraging Use of Face Covers. Unless required by specific Agency policy, the use of face coverings (approved surgical masks or cloth face covers) completely covering the nose and mouth is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to be worn when an individual is in an enclosed, Congressional space with at least one other person present.
3. Face coverings are NOT required in indoor spaces when an individual is alone. Limited exceptions are also permissible.
4. Face coverings are not required in outdoor settings when six-foot separation between individuals is able to be maintained. If unable to maintain separation in outdoor public spaces, the use of face coverings is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
5. Use of a face covering is a separate secondary method of lowering transmission risk. It is NOT a substitute for social distancing. Even if you wear a face covering, every effort should be made adhere to six-foot social distancing guidelines.
6. Selection of Face Coverings. Face coverings approved for use may consist of multiple fabric layers fashioned into a well fitting mask, a surgical mask (minimum 3 layer polyester), or a multiple fabric layer neck tube mask, “gaiter”. Face covers that contain an unfiltered exhalation valve or single fabric layer “gaiters” must not be used. Attention should be given to correct application to the face to cover the nose and mouth and fit the face well.
Screen Visitors. Official Visitors should use hand sanitizer upon entry and prior to departure, and utilize a face covering for the duration of their visit. Sponsoring Offices should ask scheduled visitors to state they have completed the Health Screening Inventory (see page 16) before arrival at the Capitol on the day of their visit or committee appearance and answered “no” to all questions.
Maintain Meaningful Social Distancing Standards
1. Determine Maximum Occupancy of Each Work Center or Other Space. Each Office should determine the maximum number of individuals that can safely occupy a work center or other space and conduct their work where possible without exceeding social distancing standards (six-foot separation). This number will be the maximum allowable number of individuals in the office at any given time.
2. Avoid Gatherings. Each Office should evaluate activities within their work centers that cause individuals to aggregate together and avoid or limit such activities. Daily meetings, staff recognition events, etc. should be modified to occur via teleconference, occur outside, or meet distancing requirements.
3. Avoid Crowding at Dining Facilities. Each Office should consider regulating business practices related to mealtimes and other breaks.
4. Avoid Communal Food and Beverage Stations. Each Office should evaluate general food and beverage procedures. Communal coffee and water dispensers should be subject to the cleaning of commonly touched surfaces in between each individual user.
5. Modify Office Layouts and Flow Patterns. Each Office should alter the physical layout of work center spaces where possible in accordance with any Architect of the Capitol or Chief Administrative Officer parameters to maximize 6-foot distancing between Members, staff, and visitors.
Health Monitoring of the Work Force
1. Participation in a Health Monitoring Program. Participation in a health monitoring program is required for all Congressional employees unless impacted by a collective bargaining agreement or in those instances where employment is exclusively by telework or at an isolated/solitary occupancy duty station.
2. Work Center Monitor. Each Office should assign an individual as Work Center Monitor in each work center. This person will have the responsibility of coordinating results of the health screening inventory from all employees in their assigned work center on a daily basis.
3. Employee Self-Monitoring Procedures. Individual work centers will monitor for the appearance of respiratory symptoms such as frequent coughing or sneezing. Individual work centers will need to develop their own guidance with regard to actions consistent with the general approach that individuals who are visibly ill with a respiratory illness (fever, cough, sneezing, vomiting, shortness of breath, other signs such as loss of the ability to taste or smell, etc.) should not be present in the workplace until they have recovered.
4. Workplace Monitoring. Individual work centers will monitor for the appearance of respiratory symptoms such as frequent coughing or sneezing. Individual work centers will need to develop their own guidance with regard to actions consistent with the general approach that individuals who are visibly ill with a respiratory illness (fever, cough, sneezing, vomiting, shortness of breath, other signs such as loss of the ability to taste or smell, etc.) should not be present in the workplace until they have recovered.
5. Return to Work. During the period of this Pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control has requested whenever possible, Offices should not require a doctor’s note to return to the workplace after resolution of their symptoms but will rely upon the individual’s assurance that they have consulted with their primary care provider.