State Health Department: Negative COVID-19 Test Not Necessary to Return to Work
By Office of Communication
Posted on July 13, 2020, July 13, 2020

COVID test

The Texas Department of State Health Services is reissuing a notice to employers as the state works to expedite coronavirus testing.

According to the department, some businesses are requiring employees who call in sick to provide a negative COVID-19 test before returning to work. Health leaders say this additional step is unnecessary in most cases and is also creating a backlog in testing.

Workers are encouraged to take any COVID-19 symptoms seriously. State health leaders recommend anyone with mild symptoms, including fever or cough, stay home. The state says if your symptoms remain mild, there is no reason to get tested or treatment. Employees can return to work after meeting certain criteria:

  • You should be fever-free for at least 72 hours (without taking fever-reducing medicines, including Tylenol and aspirin)
  • Your symptoms have improved
  • At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms began

These criteria were created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you have a confirmed case of COVID-19, your doctor will determine if you can be released from isolation without a test, or if retesting is necessary. 

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