This plan will address respiratory virus safety topics in detail, including the framework for safely working during periods of increased respiratory virus activity levels. The site includes information on safe practices for the physical workplace, universal workplace expectations, travel and meeting guidance, testing and vaccination information, and staff wellness.
Applicability
This site applies to all NIH facilities. However, the NIH recognizes that a one-size-fits-all approach is not sustainable, and that risk assessments and local conditions may require customized solutions to the challenges of each location. Rather than prescriptive solutions, this plan establishes baseline expectations. Where modifications from these baseline expectations is necessary, the changes should be thoroughly documented and supported by a risk assessment conducted by the supervisor, in consultation with the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) and approved by the Institute/Center/Office (ICO) leadership.
Healthcare Setting Specific Requirements. Healthcare settings may have specific requirements that are based on regulation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, NIH Clinical Center policies, or other sources. Healthcare-specific requirements or links to Healthcare specific resources will be called out in these high visibility boxes.
Healthcare-specific requirements and resources are called out in highlighted text boxes such as this one. Staff should be aware that this plan does not cover all aspects of hospital infection control and personnel that have specific infection control questions should contact od_HES@mail.cc.nih.gov.
Current Respiratory Virus Activity
The CDC has resources for monitoring respiratory virus activity levels on a state-by-state and county-by-county basis. This information can provide critical context for decision making regarding symptom screening, vaccination, physical distancing, mask wearing and other exposure control strategies. Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/activity-levels.html for the most current data.
The NIH is currently developing a tool to display CDC data regarding current respiratory virus trends. Until that tool is deployed, please refer to the CDC data at the link above. This information can provide important data for making informed decision about way of protecting yourself, you colleagues, and visitors to the NIH.
