Important Announcement: Order Requiring COVID-19 Testing of MDOC Staff

The Department of Health and Human Services issued an emergency public health order today, Aug. 19 requiring COVID-19 testing of all staff at any facilities that have a positive staff or prisoner case.

Employees must continue to obtain testing weekly until 14 days after the last confirmed positive case at the facility. You will be advised by facility administration each week that testing is necessary.

MDHHS Director Robert Gordon stated that: COVID-19 can spread quickly in congregate living settings. Prison staff are the principal vector for COVID-19 to enter a prison facility. It is therefore imperative that they are regularly tested for COVID-19 to protect prisoners, the staff themselves, and their communities.

The MDOC will provide weekly on-site testing for employees at facilities that fall under the order. Information on the days and times of that testing will be provided to employees by their facility.

If an employee is symptomatic, she or he must obtain testing in the community and provide proof of testing, which includes the date and testing location. You will be advised by facility administration each week that testing is necessary. For those who need information about testing locations in their area, you can visit https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-99891_99912-531745--,00.html.

Employees can obtain free testing at the facility each week. You will not be paid or reimbursed for your time if you choose to obtain testing in the community as the department is providing free testing.

Each employee at their facility will be required to sign a form acknowledging their awareness of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services public health order, including the weekly testing requirements and consequences for not obtaining the mandated test weekly.

This order requires weekly testing for all staff in facilities that have had a positive staff or prisoner case within the last 14 days of the effective date of the order, which is Sept. 8.

Employees who do not obtain testing will be ineligible for work.

Employees will not be notified by the department if their test result comes back negative. You will only be advised if your test comes back positive.

Also as part of the MDHHS order, all newly hired staff must obtain testing on their start date or in the 72 hours prior to start date.

According to the emergency order, there is no end date defined, it will remain in place until MDHHS lifts the order.

Those with questions about this health department order can send them to AskMDOC@michigan.gov. 

• Staff Testing FAQ1.docx