Update for HUD Industry Partners with Employees Working in or Visiting HUD Facilities

Good afternoon, HUD Industry Partners! The Department is implementing the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force). The protocols should be followed by all employees, contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status: Stop screening testing for unvaccinated employees . Unvaccinated employees are no longer required to test prior to entering a HUD facility or interacting in person with HUD employees, stakeholders , and members of the public while performing official in-person duties. Supervisors and managers must instruct employees to stop testing and should no longer submit budget approval for COVID-19 screening testing. If an employee has already tested, they may follow the established procedure to request reimbursement. Contractors and visitors are no longer required to provide vaccination information. Use of the Certification of Attestation Form will no longer be required to enter HUD facilities. Unvaccinated contractors and visitors are no longer required to test for COVID-19 prior to entering a HUD facility. Continue to follow HUD’s workplace safety protocols: Utilize the symptom screening self-check prior to entering a HUD-controlled facility. Communicate to staff that physical distancing from others is recommended and to avoid crowding in indoor common areas and meeting rooms. The Department’s weekly safety protocols will continue to be informed by the COVID-19 Community Levels provided to you by email or your appointed COR. The HUD COVID Operations Policy by Office (HUD@Work) will reflect the masking requirement for each HUD facility provided by email or by your appointed COR. All employees, contractors, and visitors must wear a high-quality mask in HUD facilities with HIGH COVID-19 Community Levels. A “high-quality” mask is either a NIOSH-approved respirator (such as an N95 respirator) or a well-fitting KN95 or disposable “procedure” or “surgical” mask. High-quality masks are available upon request in HUD offices when community levels are HIGH. All HUD employees assigned to a HUD Office where the CDC COVID-19 Community Level for the facility is HIGH have the option to situationally telework while the COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH; it is voluntary to go into the HUD office at such time. Employees must notify their managers if they intend to situationally telework due to HIGH COVID-19 Community Levels. If an employee tests positive or is exposed to COVID-19: During days 6 to 10, they must not travel on public transportation (airplanes, buses, and trains) if they will not be able to wear a high-quality mask indoors when around others for the full duration of their travel. If an employee tests positive for COVID-19 : You must continue to report the instance to the COVID-19 Reporting Team on the employee’s behalf and have them follow the Department’s guidance for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. Once the case is reported, the COVID-19 Reporting Team will respond with additional guidance for you to share with the employee. Generally, the employee must stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others after testing positive for COVID-19. The employee may only return to the workplace or official in-person duties if after 5 days they are fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are improving. The employee must wear a high-quality mask when around others for 10 days after testing positive. If an employee is exposed to COVID-19: If an employee is asymptomatic, they may enter HUD facilities and perform official in-person duties, but must wear a high-quality mask when around others for 10 days. The employee is expected to test on or after day 6 after potential exposure to COVID-19. If the employee tests positive, they should no longer enter the facility and should follow the procedures for testing positive above. Any employee who has been exposed to COVID-19 may request situational telework or appropriate available leave, depending on the employee’s physical ability to work. However, the employee is no longer required to quarantine and not enter the workplace. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact your appointed COR.