What precautions should health care workers exposed to SARS patients follow?
Health care facilities should be vigilant in conducting active surveillance for fever or respiratory symptoms among care givers with unprotected exposure to SARS patients. Health care workers who develop fever or respiratory symptoms during the 10 days following an unprotected exposure to a SARS patient should not report for duty, but should stay home and report symptoms to the appropriate facility point of contact immediately. Exclusion from duty should be continued for 10 days after the resolution of fever and respiratory symptoms. During this period, infected workers should avoid contact with persons both in the facility and in the community. Exclusion from duty is not recommended for an exposed health care worker if they do not have either fever or respiratory symptoms; however, the worker should report any unprotected exposure to SARS patients to the appropriate facility point of contact (e.g., infection control or occupational health) immediately. Interim guidance for the managem
