• You will be first contacted by Hillcrest to inform you of your positive test.
• You may also be contacted by the Arkansas Department of Health after you test positive.
• You may be assigned a contact nurse.  She will go over a few questions with you including when your symptoms first began.  The date of your first symptom will be used as day “0” and will help determine when you can return to work.  Ensure you report date of symptom onset accurately so you may return from quarantine as soon as possible as well as not spread the virus by returning too early.
• The nurse may also ask who your close contacts are at work.  Please report that all of your Hillcrest Home Employees are closely monitored and routinely tested for Covid-19. There is no need to give specific names.  If you live in the Dorms, the contact nurse may need the names of those who live in your suite.

If you HAVE NOT tested positive

• No symptoms
• 10 days since last exposure to positive person OR
• If you are Antigen tested 7 days after last exposure and that result comes back negative, you can return on Day 7 since last exposure.
• With the amount of factors it takes to properly carry out requirements, Hillcrest will help determine correct steps on returning to work on a case by case basis.

If you HAVE tested positive:

• You will need to contact Charlotte Jurgena to determine this. Each case is unique.
• The date of your first symptom will be used as “Day 0”.
• If you do not have any symptoms, the date the test was administered will be used as “Day 0”.
• The Hillcrest Home personnel who originally reported your positive result should have asked the date of your first symptom.  Ensure you report date of symptom onset accurately so you may return from quarantine as soon as possible as well as not spread the virus by returning too early.  If this changes please contact Charlotte Jurgena immediately.
• After a positive result, quarantine usually lasts 7-10 days.
• You will be allowed to return to work on your 7^th day (with a negative antigen test) after initial symptoms or test date if you meet all the following criteria:
  • At least 7 days have passed and you have a negative antigen test, if you remain positive, you can return on the 10th day.
  • At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
  • Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved.

• Hillcrest Home is occasionally awarded a waiver that allows employees to return to the Covid-19 Unit before quarantine has ended.  Employee must not be symptomatic or working outside the Covid-19 Unit.  The waiver is granted weekly.

• If you HAVE tested positive

  • This policy will go into effect with the first pay period that rolls into 2022. So this policy affects any employee who has tested positive as of 12/26/2021 or later…
    • You can receive up to 32 hours of Sick Pay added to your current Sick Pay balance, or the amount of hours you usually work in 1 week, whichever is less.
    • You are not required to use your Vacation or Sick pay balance before receiving the Sick Pay detailed above.
    • If you require further payment, you can use any Vacation hours in youbalance, and are allowed to go up to 16 hours negative. Negative hours can only be used for shifts you were scheduled to work.
    • Employees wishing to use this extra Sick Pay must CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST, fill out a paper request form, or send an email to secretary@hillcresthome.net.
  • All claims will be turned in to Worker’s Compensation, and they will determine whether the positive test was a result of working at Hillcrest or not. If they determine it was work related, you may be eligible for payout from Worker’s Compensation for time lost.
  • Duration of the sickness is subject to approval by Charlotte Jurgena.
  • Contact Rosene Yoder for any pay related questions

• If you HAVE NOT tested positive

  • You may request to use any Sick or Vacation pay you have available.
  • Contact Rosene Yoder for any pay related questions

• Leave work immediately, even if asymptomatic.
• Quarantine from family and friends.
• Wear a mask when unable to be apart.
• Sanitize surfaces frequently.
• Take care of yourself.  Take Zinc, Vitamin C & D. Hydrate, get fresh air, and do breathing exercises.
• Follow CDC Guidelines
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

• Follow ADH Guidelines
  • https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-guidance-for-self-home-quarantine

Positive tests after November 6, 2020 are not required to have a work release from the ADH. Decisions to return to work are decided by Charlotte Jurgena and Phil Yoder.

You will resume weekly staff testing at Hillcrest Home 90 days after your positive test date. If you receive the COVID-19 vaccination, you may not be required to test at the same frequency as unvaccinated staff.

• Yes. Cases of reinfection with COVID-19 have been reported.
• For the first 90 days, if you retest, your test might be positive.  This is from shedding the dead virus.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and may include, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.

Sent from ADH, the SARA Alert is an automated system that sends a daily email, text message or automated phone call to individuals identified as a close contact of a COVID-19-positive person.  You may be set up for these by your contact nurse.