A test-based strategy does not help inform return to work for healthcare
workers with COVID-19
Abstract
Objective: To assess the utility of a test-based approach to shorten
isolation of healthcare workers with COVID-19 in the setting of the
highly transmissible omicron variant Methods: Between December 24th,
2021, to January 5th, 2022 HCWs who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 were
re-tested at least five days since onset of symptoms. Results: 46
sequential fully COVID-19 vaccinated HCWs who had tested positive for
SARS-CoV-2 underwent follow up testing. All the isolates were confirmed
as omicron variants and only 4 (8.7%) were negative 5 days or more
since onset of symptoms., Conclusions: Implementation of a test-based
strategy is logistically challenging, increases costs and did not lead
to shorter isolation in our institution.