FAQs for Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel
What does CDC recommend for law enforcement personnel who have been in close contact (less than 6 feet) with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?
If law enforcement personnel have direct personal contact with an individual
with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, they should immediately use alcohol-
based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol, or wash
hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. Any uniform items
(or other surfaces) that were potentially exposed should be disinfected or
cleaned as soon as feasible. For example, the duty belt or other non-porous
items can be disinfected using products that are EPA-approved for use against
the virusexternal icon. Porous items, like the uniform, should
be replaced as soon as possible and then laundered according to manufacturers’
recommendations. This is especially important if any body fluids were expelled
during the encounter (bloodborne pathogen protocols should also be followed if
applicable). Gloves should be worn when touching potentially contaminated
items or applying disinfectants and it is important to perform hand hygiene
upon removing gloves or other PPE.
Law enforcement personnel who have an exposure should be evaluated by their
occupational health program and may be able to finish their work shift before
starting home isolation.
If personnel and resources are available, it is most protective for law
enforcement personnel to stay at home until 14
days after
exposure to an individual with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 if the exposure
was prolonged (10 minutes or more) or if the exposure was of concern (e.g.,
the individual coughed into the face of the law enforcement officer). This
would best protect the health of the exposed worker, their co-workers, and the
general public.
However, if personnel and resources are not available, law enforcement
personnel (considered critical infrastructure workers) may be permitted to
work after exposure to ensure continuity of operations. To continue working,
the exposed worker should remain symptom-free, and the employer should put
into place the following prevention
strategies for the exposed worker:

Screen the worker for symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness of breath) before each work shift
Regularly monitor the worker for symptoms, under the supervision of an occupational health program
Ensure the worker practices social distancing (remaining at least 6 feet away from others)
Ensure the worker wears a facemask (or cloth face covering if facemasks are unavailable) to protect others

If an exposed worker develops symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness
of breath) and is still working, the employer should:

Send the worker home immediately and encourage them to follow CDC guidance for What to Do If You Are Sick.
Clean and disinfect surfaces in their workspace.
Follow CDC guidance to determine when the worker can return to work.

For more information, see CDC’s updated guidance for Implementing Safety
Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a
Person with Suspected or Confirmed
COVID-19.