Puerto Rico updates guidance for the management of COVID-19 cases

The Department of Health of Puerto Rico has issued an updated guide for the investigation of COVID-19 cases that is applicable to all employers in the public and private sectors. The protocol, issued on May 12, 2022, reduces the quarantine length established in the previous protocol.

Mandatory self-quarantine periods

Quarantine periods are determined by the vaccination status of the person and the severity of the symptoms:

• Fully vaccinated persons without symptoms must self-quarantine for five days after receiving their first positive COVID-19 test result. They may return to work on the sixth day.
• Fully vaccinated persons with moderate symptoms must self-quarantine for seven days after the onset of symptoms. They may return to work on the eighth day, as long as they no longer have a fever and symptoms have improved.
• All unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons, without regard of the severity of symptoms, must self-quarantine for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or on receiving the first positive test result. They may return to work on the eleventh day, as long as they no longer have a fever and symptoms have improved.
• All persons with severe symptoms, as well as pregnant and immunocompromised persons, must self-quarantine for the period recommended by a health provider. They may return to work when medically allowed.

These quarantine periods may be reduced for persons who work in healthcare or at long-term care facilities which need their personnel as part of a crisis response plan.

As of March 10, 2022, all vaccination mandates established by the Government of Puerto Rico have been eliminated, except for those applicable to healthcare workers.

An adult between 18 and 50 years old is considered fully vaccinated if the person has received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and no more than five months have passed since the second dose; or has received one dose of the Janssen vaccine and no more than two months have passed; or has received any of the two options above and one booster shot.

An adult over 50 years old is considered fully vaccinated if the person has received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine plus two booster shots; if the first booster was administered less than four months ago, one booster shot is acceptable.

A minor between 12 and 17 years old is considered fully vaccinated if the minor has received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and the second dose was administered within the last two months; if more than two months have passed, they will be required to have one booster shot. Minors between 5 and 11 years old are considered fully vaccinated if they have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Children under 5 are not yet authorized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

For purposes of the first positive result to calculate the self-quarantine period, COVID-19 at-home tests will be accepted if they are registered in the Department of Health’s contact tracing system and confirmed within 48 hours with a test administered by a laboratory or a certified entity.

Self-quarantine for people who have had close contact with infected persons

Vaccinated persons who have had close contact (less than six feet of distance for a cumulated period of 15 minutes or more) with a person with COVID-19 do not need to self-quarantine if they are not feeling unwell but must take a COVID-19 test on the fifth day after the last day of exposure.

In contrast, unvaccinated persons must self-quarantine for five days since their exposure; on the fifth day, they must take a COVID-19 test and may stop self-quarantine and return to work on the sixth day if the result is negative and no symptoms have appeared. However, unvaccinated people are exempt from self-quarantine if they have recovered from COVID-19 within 90 days prior to exposure or if they work in the following areas: healthcare, pharmacies, long-term care, elderly homes, police and security, firefighting, food distribution, banking, hotels and other lodging, and manufacturing.

In any case, those who have had close contact with an infected person must wear a facemask and continue monitoring potential symptoms until the tenth day after their last exposure. If symptoms appear, they must repeat the COVID-19 test.

Use of facemasks

Regardless of the required quarantine periods, all persons who test positive must use facemasks at all times for at least 10 days since their symptoms began or, if asymptomatic, since they received a positive test result.

Currently, facemasks are only required in Puerto Rico inside healthcare institutions, medical offices, pharmacies, elderly care sites, schools, prisons, and public transportation. However, employers and private entities are allowed to require employees and visitors to wear masks within their installations.

Additionally, it is prohibited to prevent any individual who wants to wear a facemask from doing so.

Test results are not required to take sick leave or return to work

Although each employer may establish its own rules, the Department of Health recommends employers not require a COVID-19 test to allow their employees to take leave to self-quarantine when necessary. It is also recommended that employers not require a negative result for employees to return to work after completing the self-quarantine periods.

Employers must still notify the Department of Health of positive cases among their employees by filling out the provided form and sending it to covidpatronos@salud.pr.gov. In addition, employers must continue encouraging their sick employees to stay at home; notify their supervisors if they have COVID-19 symptoms, and not return to work until they have finished their quarantine periods.

Cautionary strategies for the mitigation of COVID-19 propagation in the workplace remain unchanged. The Department of Heath’s recommendations to employers include maintaining social distance; routinely disinfecting the workplace; providing paid time off to be vaccinated and boosted; and instructing infected employees and employees who have had contact with an infected person not to visit the workplace if they can work remotely.

Requirements and protocols are constantly changing as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. We encourage employers to keep abreast of new developments and contact us if they have any questions.