HR COVID Information

August 28, 2023

Employees experiencing COVID-like symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for diagnosis, testing and/or treatment. If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, they should contact Human Resources by phone (610-683-1353) or email ().

Employees are to follow their healthcare provider’s instructions in accordance with CDC guidance for isolation and exposure precautions. Notably, employees who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home for days 1-5 and isolate from others. Employees can end isolation after day five if they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and their symptoms have improved. Employees should then wear a well-fitted mask for days 6-10 any time they are around others.

  • Reminder for those with symptoms: Day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed.
  • Reminder for those with no symptoms: Day 0 is your day of a positive viral test. Day 1 is the first full day after your test specimen was collected.

If an employee's symptoms have not improved, they were severely ill or they are immunocompromised, employees should consult with their healthcare provider and isolate for the full 10 days.

Within 24 hours of testing positive, employees should contact Human Resources by phone (610-683-1353) or email () to confirm isolation time and remote work status. Remote work during isolation period is permissible for employees who test positive for COVID-19 (maximum 10 days), based on operational need, capability of employee to perform duties from home and with supervisor approval (more details below).

If an employee is exposed to COVID-19, follow CDC guidance for exposure precautions.

Remote Work for Employees who Test Positive for COVID-19
Employees who test positive for COVID-19 may request, if able, to work remotely for the length of their isolation (maximum 10 days).

Staff employees must first inform Human Resources within 24 hours of testing positive for COVID-19 by phone (610-683-1353) or email (). Staff should then notify their supervisor of their absence, along with their request to work remotely during their isolation. Requests will be granted by the supervisor, based on operational need and capability of employee to perform duties from home.

Faculty who choose to teach remotely while in isolation must teach their classes synchronously, through Zoom, at the originally scheduled class time. Office hours should continue to be held at the originally scheduled times. Faculty must inform Human Resources within 24 hours of testing positive for COVID-19 by phone (610-683-1353) or email (), as well as their department chair and dean.

This only applies to employees who test positive for COVID-19. Remote work is not approved for those on quarantine (exposure), for child/family care, or for non-COVID-related sick leave. Employees in these circumstances, or employees who test positive but choose not to work remotely, or are unable to work remotely, will be expected to use appropriate leave time.