Resources for Taco María Employees During COVID-19

UPDATED 08/17/2022

GUIDE FOR LIMITING EXPOSURE TO COVID-19

WHAT TO DO:

  • IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

  • IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19

  • IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

+THE RESTAURANT’S PLAN FOR POSITIVE CASE AMONG STAFF

+QUICK GUIDE TO TESTING RESOURCES

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

Example: You have a fever, chills, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, body or muscle aches, loss of taste or smell, persistent headache, loss of appetite, or any other possible symptom of COVID-19.

Applies to: All employees, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or exposure.

  1.     Stay home from work.

  2.     Notify manager.

  3.    Get tested for COVID-19 ASAP. Acceptable tests if you have symptoms include: rapid antigen tests and PCR tests (both available with appt from CVS, RiteAid, urgent care centers, etc), and at-home rapid antigen tests (available for sale from pharmacies, Target, etc.)

  4.     Notify employer of results of test (employer will not keep test results on file).

  5.  If test is negative:

    1.     Notify employer.

    2.     Stay home until you don’t have fever or any other symptoms.

    3.     Keep manager updated and set return to work date with manager for when symptoms are gone.

  6. If positive for COVID-19:

    1.     Notify employer immediately.

    2.     Follow guide for employees who test positive for COVID-19.

IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19

Example: You live with someone who has COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19. “Close contact” is defined as exposure for 15 minutes or more within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Applies to: All employees, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or exposure. 

If you have no symptoms and are able to stop exposure (for example, stay somewhere else while someone in the household has COVID): 

  1.     Get a rapid antigen test as soon as you learn of exposure, and notify manager of exposure.

  2.     If the test result is negative, and you have no symptoms, you can return to work immediately.

  3.     If symptoms develop, notify manager and follow guidelines for employee who has symptoms of COVID-19.

  4.     If no symptoms and first negative test, you can work but must wear a tight-fitting mask at all times in the workplace and leave the premises to remove it to eat, drink water, etc. for 5 days.

  5.     After 5 days, take a second rapid antigen test.

  6.     If no symptoms develop and test is negative, you can return to regular schedule.

  7.     If test is positive, self-isolate for at least 5 days, and follow guidelines for employee who tests positive.  

 

IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Applies to: All employees, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or exposure.

  1. Stay home for at least 5 days after positive test, or after symptoms develop if symptoms developed before positive test.

  2. If symptoms develop:

    1. Stay home until symptoms resolve.

    2. You can return to work after:

                - symptoms are gone and you have received a negative rapid test at least 5 days after symptoms developed.

  3.   If no symptoms develop:

    1. Take a rapid antigen test on day 5 or later.

    2. You can return to work after you have received a negative rapid test at least 5 days after your original positive test.

 

RESTAURANT PLAN FOR POSITIVE CASE

Applies to: Restaurant’s actions as they pertain to all employees who have worked, within the past 5 days, with a colleague who tests positive for COVID-19.

  1.      Notify all employees who have worked onsite in the past 5 days immediately that there has been a positive case among the staff.

  2.     Do not share personal medical details of employee with rest of staff.

  3.     If any other employees develop symptoms, they should leave work and take a rapid test.

  4.     If other employees do not develop symptoms, they:

    1.     Can continue working regular schedule.

    2.   Should maintain all rigorous mask and other safety precautions at work.

    3.     Should monitor health for development of any symptoms for 5 days.

                                              i)         If symptoms develop, test again.

                                             ii)         If no symptoms develop after 5 days, maintain regular schedule.

  5.     If any rapid tests for other employees are positive, send those employees home to follow guide for employees who test positive for COVID-19.

  6.    Notify all employees of number of positive cases.

  7.     Report information about COVID-19 cases at our workplace to the local health department whenever required by law (when there are 3 or more cases in the workplace, which signifies an outbreak), and provide any related information requested by the local health department.

  8.    Maintain records of the steps taken to implement our written COVID-19 Prevention Program in accordance with CCR Title 8 section 3203(b).

  9.     Make our written COVID-19 Prevention Program available at the workplace to employees, authorized employee representatives, and to representatives of Cal/OSHA immediately upon request.

QUICK GUIDE TO TESTING RESOURCES

At this time, we recommend you keep some rapid tests at home and know where you can get PCR tests in case you need them. Below are some resources for accessing COVID testing FREE OF CHARGE:

  • FREE RAPID TESTS FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD: Every household in the US can order free rapid tests from the US government. ORDER YOUR FREE TESTS HERE.

  • UP TO 8 ADDITIONAL FREE RAPID TESTS PER MONTH: Available to anyone who has health insurance, either through Taco María or another source. You can either get reimbursed by your health insurance for up to 8 over-the-counter rapid tests per month OR get rapid tests paid by insurance up front at retailers selected by the insurance. Insurance companies all have different procedures for getting these free tests—check your insurance’s website or call the 800 number on the back of your card for info before buying tests this way. (For example, Kaiser will reimburse you; Anthem/Blue Cross will pay up front for your. tests but only at select retailers.) MORE INFO HERE.

  • FREE AT-HOME PCR TESTS BY MAIL: Available to anyone who lives or works in Orange County. Note: these tests should ship to you within 24-48 hours but sometimes have delays. ORDER A FREE AT-HOME PCR TEST FROM OC PUBLIC HEALTH.

  • FREE IN-PERSON PCR TESTS AT LATINO HEALTH ACCESS: Schedule an in-person free PCR test at locations throughout OC. MORE INFO AND PHONE CONTACT HERE.

  • OTHER FREE PCR TESTING OPTIONS: Check your health care provider, pharmacies like CVS, Walgreen’s, etc., and urgent care clinics, usually in the morning, for same-day or next-day appointments. NOTE: All PCR testing should be free of charge, whether or not you have health insurance. Do not pay for PCR testing out of pocket. If you need additional help finding testing, contact Emilie.