COVID-19: Return to work guidance for healthcare workers
This guidance provides advice for the healthcare sector on safe ways for workers to return to work following COVID-19 infection or exposure.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
Guidance for return to work for healthcare workers
Healthcare workers have a unique role and therefore a unique responsibility when considering their return to work following a COVID-19 or other acute respiratory infection.
This document provides guidance for clinical leaders and managers in the health sector to manage the return to work of healthcare workers who have been infected with, or exposed to, COVID-19, as well as those who have acute respiratory symptoms but have tested negative for COVID-19.
It provides structured return-to-work pathways to enable individual regions and/or services to make decisions appropriate for their circumstances.
This guidance applies to healthcare workers in:
- Hospitals
- Aged residential care
- Primary and community services
- Home support services provided for a variety of clients including mental health and disability support services; and
- It is also appropriate for use by NGOs and private providers in health services.