The purpose of this memorandum is to provide updated protocols and to be a reference for City of Brockton employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines are intended to help ensure the health and safety of both the public and City employees.
Guidelines for the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Masks are required to be worn inside of City Hall, over the nose and mouth by the public and all employees regardless of vaccination status.
- Masks are available to the public and employees through BEMA.
For the below information, these words are defined as the following:
- Monitoring: keeping someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.
- Isolation: keeping someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home.
- Close Contact: if an employee has been within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 cumulative minutes or more within a 24-hour period, in an indoor setting.
COVID-19 Symptoms
| · Fever (100 F or higher), chills, or shaking chills | · Sore throat |
| · Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath | · Nausea, vomiting |
| · New loss of taste or smell | · Headache |
| · Muscle aches or body aches | · Fatigue |
| · Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic)
|
· Nasal congestion or runny nose |
ISOLATION (if you test positive for COVID-19)
A COVID positive individual who is able to mask, regardless of vaccination status, should stay home for a minimum of 5 days. If a COVID positive individual is unable to mask, regardless of vaccination status, the individual should stay home for 10 days. If signs and symptoms are resolved/improving on day 11, the individual may resume most usual activities.
Days to Isolate
- Day 0, first day of symptoms OR day the positive test was taken, whichever is earlier
- Days 1-4, continue to isolate
- Day 5, last day of Isolation if asymptomatic or symptoms are improving
- Day 6, leave isolation (if you are able to wear a mask at all times when around other people, including in your household, through day 10). You may remove your mask prior
Testing is not required to return to work following isolation, as long as symptoms have resolved, and the individual is fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) for a 24-hour period. If an individual wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. If your test result is positive, you should continue to isolate until you test negative. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10.
MONITORING (If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19)
| Day 0 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 |
| Exposure | Test | Last day masking | End masking |
*Get Tested at on DAY 6 or LATER after exposure.
*You should still test (except at <30 days and not symptomatic)
COVID-19 Cases, Monitoring, & Isolation Requirements
- All questions related to an employee’s ability to report to and remain at work should be directed to the Board of Health.
- The public and city employees shall not report to City Hall if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.
- Individuals whose symptoms have not improved may not return to work.
What to do if an employee:
-
- Has been exposed to COVID-19 (is a close contact of someone with COVID-19)
- An employee should inform their supervisor and Department Head immediately
- The Department Head should contact the City of Brockton Board of Health and the Human Resources Department as soon as they are contacted by the employee.
- The Board of Health will advise the department head and the employee directly.
- Tests positive for COVID-19
- An employee should inform their supervisor and Department Head immediately.
- The Department Head should contact the City of Brockton Board of Health and the Human Resources Department as soon as they are contacted by the employee.
- If the employee is at work when notified that they have tested positive for COVID-19, the Department Head should send the employee home immediately until they are contacted by the Board of Health.
- The employee should be in isolation for 5 days at the minimum.
- The Board of Health will advise the Department Head and the employee directly.
- Any COVID-19 positive employee is encouraged to report the positive result to their Primary Care Provider (PCP) as well for further guidance.
- Has been exposed to COVID-19 (is a close contact of someone with COVID-19)
The chart below is for reference and should be utilized by department heads in conjunction with the decisions of the Board of Health and the patient’s physicians.
| General Population | School & Childcare | |
| Isolation for positive cases | · Isolate 5 days
· Masking Days 6-10 To End Masking Early: · 2 Negative tests to end masking Day 6-10
No Testing/Refuse Masking: · Isolate 10 days |
· Isolate 5 Days
· Masking Days 6-10 To End Masking Early: · 1 Negative Test to end masking in Day 6-10
No Testing/Refuse Masking: Isolate 10 days
*Follow general population guidance during outside school time |
| Exposed Contacts regardless of vaccination status | · Must Mask 10 Days
· Get Tested Day 6 or Later
No Guidance for Ending Masking Early · Must mask whole 10 days if you can mask |
· Must Mask 10 Days
· Get Tested Day 6 or Later
No Guidance for Ending Masking Early Should mask whole 10 days if you can mask
*Follow general population guidance during outside school time |
If you have or develop symptoms, you must continue to stay home until you have not had a fever for 24-hours without the use of fever lowering medications or until you have negative rapid antigen test result.
Testing during isolation is not required.
CASES wishing to discontinue masking in Days 6-10 via Antigen Testing:
- CASES: Persons who have access to antigen tests and who choose to use testing to determine when they can discontinue masking should wait to take the first test until at least day 6 and they are without a fever for ≥24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and all other symptoms have improved.
- Use of two antigen tests with ≥48 hours between tests provides more reliable information because of improved test sensitivity.
- Two consecutive test results must be negative for persons to discontinue masking. If either test result is positive, persons should continue to wear a mask around others and continue testing every 48 hours until they have two sequential negative results.
New Exposure & Testing if you’ve had COVID-19 before:
If you have been exposed to someone with COVID, you do not need to quarantine as long as you remain asymptomatic, regardless of your vaccination status. You must wear a mask any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public for the 10 days following your exposure, unless you are unable to mask*.
If you were exposed and develop symptoms at any time, isolate and take a test and stay home until you know the result. If the result is positive, follow isolation protocols. If your test is negative or if you have remained asymptomatic, take a test on day 6.
- If you have not had COVID-19 in the last 90 days, you can test with either a rapid antigen or PCR test.
- People who had COVID-19 in the last 90 days should test with a rapid antigen test, not a PCR test.
- People who had COVID-19 in the last 30 days are not recommended to test on day 6 but should use a rapid antigen test if they develop any symptoms.
If you test positive, follow isolation guidance. For more information, please see CDC COVID-19 Exposure Guidance.
* You are unable to consistently wear a mask due to young age or medical or behavioral condition.
“Up to Date” on COVID-19 Vaccines is defined as:
- Completed the primary series of Pfizer, Moderna, J&J vaccine AND a Bivalent booster dose
OR - Completed the primary series of Pfizer, Moderna within the last 5 months
OR - Completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months.
If an employee voluntarily goes home sick or is asked to leave because they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and then subsequently receives a negative COVID-19 test, they must use accrued time to be compensated. Employees are required to use accrued time when out sick.
The Department Head or supervisor that is notified should not make the determination for an employee regarding the necessity to be monitored or isolate.
Pfizer and Moderna Bivalent Boosters Now Available!
The Brockton Board of Health is now administering the updated (Bivalent) COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech boosters for people ages 12 years and older and the Bivalent Moderna Boosters for people ages 18 years and older.
- The Bivalent Pfizer and Moderna booster doses are recommended at least two months after receiving the primary series of an authorized monovalent COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, J&J) or previous (monovalent) booster (s).
- If you recently tested positive for COVID-19, you will be eligible to get your updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccine 90 days from your symptoms onset or positive test.
Bivalent boosters of both Moderna & Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to increase immune response in those who have completed a primary series and previous booster(s).
To remain up-to-date with your vaccination, please reference the vaccine calendar on the City website.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the vaccine updates, please call the Board of Health at 508-580-7175.
When to Get Bivalent Booster Dose?
| Vaccination History | Next Dose | |
|
Primary Series
|
At least two months |
1 Bivalent Booster Dose |
|
Primary Series + 1 Booster
|
At least two months |
1 Bivalent Booster Dose |
|
Primary Series + 2 Boosters
|
At least two months |
1 Bivalent Booster Dose |