State of Hawai'i House of Representatives COVID-19 Employers Guide

This handout provides recommendations from different State and Federal agencies regarding the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This information is based on what is currently known about the new COVID-19 as of March 16. For the most updated information from the State Department of Health (DOH), please visit health.hawaii.gov/covid19. You can also sign up to receive daily COVID-19 updates from DOH at health.hawaii.gov/news/covid-19-updates. Please stay informed through official government agencies, such as DOH, the State Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to ensure you are updated with the most accurate and timely information and prevent the spread of misinformation.

COVID-19 General Information
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness with symptoms that can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, appearing as few as 2 days and as many as 14 days after exposure to the virus.

It is important for everyone, even those who are young and healthy, to take immediate steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Doing so is our best chance of reducing stress on our healthcare system and protecting the more vulnerable members of our community. Please do your part by eliminating non-essential travel and large gatherings, practicing social distancing by holding virtual meetings online or by phone, maintaining distance between people (at least 6 feet), and practicing rigorous hygiene.

If you are sick, it is imperative that you practice self-quarantine to reduce further spread of illness (whether of COVID-19 or something else). Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, wear a facemask, and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Please get a flu vaccine to protect yourself from the flu. If you need to see a doctor, please call ahead and tell them you have or may have COVID-19 to allow healthcare providers take steps to limit other people's exposure.

CDC's Guidance for Businesses and Employers
This guidance is intended to prevent workplace exposures to COVID-19 and limit community spread of the virus. Recommended strategies for employers to use now:
• Send sick employees home immediately.
o Employees who have symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath should stay in self-isolation and not come to work.
o Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and inform your employees of such policies. Employers should also maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member.
Develop non-punitive leave policies to support employees making responsible choices consistent with public health guidance.
o Do not require a healthcare provider's note for employees who are sick to either validate their illness or return to work. We want to reduce excess stress on our healthcare system during this time.
o Employees who are well but reside with someone who has COVID-19 should notify their employer. Employers, please consult the attached Employer Risk Assessment Guidance to assess the employee’s exposure risk level (Table 1) and determine the recommended management plan (Table 2).
• Emphasize respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees – Place posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and hand hygiene at the entrance of your workplace and other visible areas. Provide tissues, alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and soap and water to employees.
• Perform routine environmental cleaning – Routinely clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace.

For more information from CDC on how your business can plan, prepare, and respond to COVID-19, please visit http://bit.ly/cdc-business-guidance.

DOH Guidance
In addition to the above CDC recommendations, DOH recommends that large, crowded gatherings or public events that include 100 people or more, or smaller gatherings held in enclosed spaces that do not allow social distancing, be postponed, cancelled, or held virtually. A safe “social distance” is defined as a minimum of two-arms-length (six feet) between people.

Matson Operations
Matson operations are continuing without interruptions and they intend to maintain all service schedules as normal. Matson is committed to taking all appropriate steps to ensure the continuation of services necessary to meet the needs of their customers. Matson also has frequent and regular communication with the U.S. Coast Guard and DOT regarding commercial port operations.

State Legislature
State and county agencies are actively preparing for continuity of business operations to deal with the potential impact of COVID-19. The State's goal is to enable ongoing operations in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in Hawai'i. At this time, businesses should remain open and continue to follow everyday preventative actions explained above.

House Resolution No. 54 established the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness to work with representatives from local and state government, private industry, and nonprofit organizations to inform the House of Representatives on the economic and financial impact of COVID-19 and mitigation measures for the State. Please visit the State Legislature's website at capitol.hawaii.gov for Committee meeting notices, agendas, and relevant economic documents.


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