As respiratory virus season continues, long-term care providers are reminded to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated guidance for healthcare personnel exposed to or infected with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Released September 11, 2026, the updated recommendations allow eligible healthcare workers to return to work sooner following an infection and generally continue working after an exposure if they remain asymptomatic.

For long-term care (LTC) and senior care providers, the changes offer greater flexibility in managing staffing needs while maintaining infection prevention practices. However, the update does not change the separate infection control guidance for residents.

What Has Changed for Healthcare Personnel?

Under the CDC’s updated Viral Respiratory Infections guidance, healthcare personnel with suspected or confirmed respiratory viral infections may return to work when all four conditions are met:

• At least three days have passed since symptom onset, or since the first positive test if the individual remained asymptomatic.
• They have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.
• Symptoms are improving.
• They feel well enough to return to work.

With symptom onset or the first positive test designated as day zero, the earliest possible return to work is day four. Healthcare personnel returning to work must continue using appropriate source control, such as a well-fitting mask, through at least day seven.

For asymptomatic healthcare personnel exposed to a respiratory virus, work restrictions are generally unnecessary. However, the CDC recommends source control from the first day of exposure through at least the fifth day after the last exposure, along with symptom monitoring for at least five days following the last exposure.

Additional considerations may apply to healthcare personnel who are severely ill or immunocompromised.

What About Long-Term Care Residents?

The updated guidance applies only to healthcare personnel. Existing CDC infection control recommendations for long-term care residents remain unchanged. Residents with COVID-19 generally require Transmission-Based Precautions for at least 10 days from symptom onset, or from the first positive test if asymptomatic. Longer periods, up to 20 days or potentially more, may be necessary for residents with severe illness or compromised immune systems. Providers should continue following the CDC’s SARS-CoV-2 Infection Control Guidance when determining when precautions can be discontinued.

What This Means for Long-Term Care Providers

The updated recommendations provide an opportunity for long-term care organizations to review their respiratory infection policies while continuing to prioritize resident and staff safety.

Key considerations include:

• Reviewing staff return-to-work policies to align with current CDC recommendations and applicable state and local requirements.
• Maintaining appropriate source control for healthcare personnel returning after an infection or continuing to work following an exposure.
• Reinforcing resident-specific precautions to ensure staff understand the differences between healthcare personnel and resident guidance.
• Educating staff about symptom monitoring, reporting procedures, and infection prevention practices.
• Supporting vaccination and infection prevention efforts to help reduce respiratory virus transmission throughout the community.

Balancing Staffing Needs and Resident Safety

The CDC acknowledges that prolonged work restrictions can contribute to staffing shortages, potentially affecting infection prevention practices and patient care.

The revised recommendations aim to balance the need to reduce respiratory virus transmission with the operational challenges healthcare organizations face when staff members are unable to work.

For long-term care providers, staying informed about evolving guidance, maintaining clear policies, and reinforcing infection prevention practices remain essential to protecting residents and supporting quality care.