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COVID-19 update – Jan. 20

The state has identified 1,204,929 cases of COVID-19 as of today (increase of 148,693 since our last newsletter on Jan. 6), with 1,142,344 of these cases no longer requiring isolation (increase of 136,495). 11,115 deaths have been reported (increase of 382). For more information on the current situation, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.   At the bottom of this email, you will find Met Council workforce statistics related to COVID-19 leave that have been reported to the Employee Resource Center.   Do you have thoughts or concerns on the content or frequency of these COVID-19 update emails? We would love to hear your feedback through the online COVID-19 form, so we can make sure these emails are providing the most useful and timely information to staff.

At a glance

What you need to know this week:

• The Met Council is experiencing the highest number of active COVID-19 cases we've ever seen during the pandemic.
• In light of the U.S. Supreme Court halting enforcement of recent OSHA mandates, we are not moving forward on certain requirements, but most of our masking, vaccination, and testing rules remain in place.
• Please review the definitions of quarantine, isolation, close contact, and vaccination status from the CDC.
• The CDC and MDH updated their guidelines for quarantine and isolation, which the Met Council is using to determine our return-to-work guidelines.
  • Please review any division-specific guidelines your division leaders have shared in addition to these Councilwide requirements.
• COVID-19 treatment will be continue to be covered by the Met Council at 100% until March 1, when it will be covered under your medical plan.
• The Well@Work clinics are now offering vaccines to those age 5 and older.
• New options for COVID-19 at-home rapid tests are available through USPS and HealthPartners. Please note: At-home rapid tests are for personal use and are not accepted in the Met Council's weekly testing program or for COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave.

Read on for more about these updates.

Met Council experiencing highest-ever number of active cases

We continue to see the number of COVID-19 cases rising with the surge of the Omicron variant, and the Met Council is now experiencing the highest number of active cases we've ever seen during the pandemic. 

Our experience is reflective of what the rest of the state is seeing. The number of cases in Minnesota is rising extremely fast, with a large number of breakthrough infections and reinfections. Evidence shows much higher rates of transmission with Omicron, as it took over as the dominant variant circulating in Minnesota in less than a month.

Omicron is highly infectious and moves quickly, but according to the state early evidence shows less severe disease with Omicron, especially in people who are vaccinated or have had a prior infection. And people with a booster have 25 times more protection against Omicron than people with their primary one-shot or two-shot series. We received proof of vaccination from 82% of our employees; however, we do not have data on how many of our cases are breakthrough cases (fully vaccinated employees). Please get vaccinated, if you have not already, and boosted, if you are due for a booster.

These are strange times, and we are doing the best we can to keep our employees and customers safe while maintaining our critical operations for our customers, clients, and communities in the region.

Please follow the public health guidelines to keep yourself and those around you safe, work together with your coworkers to meet the challenges, and remain flexible as we all navigate the ever-evolving situation.

And let us take a moment to extend our appreciation to all our onsite employees and our operations teams, who are making it possible to continue our critical services. Thank you.

Most mask, vaccine, and testing requirements remain, despite ruling on OSHA

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to block enforcement of the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) emergency requirements for large employers related to COVID-19 vaccination and testing. Employers had deadlines in January and February for implementing the OSHA rules, and we had already started incorporating some of the requirements. 

In light of this ruling, we are not moving forward on elements of the OSHA mandate, but many of our masking, vaccination, and testing rules – most of which were already in effect before the OSHA requirements – remain in place.

• Masks required indoors: Our Face Coverings Procedure is still in effect, including the recent updates effective Jan. 10. Most notably, this includes the requirement that face coverings can no longer be removed in cubicles except for a limited time while eating or drinking. 
• Get vaccinated or tested to go onsite: Our Vaccine and Testing Requirement Procedure is still in effect and must be followed if you will be onsite for any reason for more than 10 minutes.
• Paid time to get vaccinated: We will still provide paid time (up to four hours) to get vaccinated. This does not include booster shots.
• CDC guidelines: We will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for quarantine, isolation, and returning to work. (More information below.)

It is possible similar requirements from the federal government will be implemented in the future, so please remain flexible and continue reading these announcements.

Definitions of COVID-19 terms

With so much information changing these days, including updated guidance around quarantining and isolation (see below), please make sure you are first familiar with the definitions of these related terms.

Close contact: Spending a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period within 6 feet or less of someone with COVID-19.

Quarantine: Staying home and away from others when you may have been exposed to the virus.

Calculating quarantine: The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Day 1 is the first full day after your last contact with a person who has had COVID-19.

Isolation: Staying home and away from others when you test positive, feel sick, or have COVID-19 symptoms.

Calculating isolation: Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected.

Well-fitted mask: A mask that fits snugly over your nose, mouth, and chin and does not have gaps around the edges.

Note the new distinction for vaccination status (learn more on the CDC website):

• Fully vaccinated: A person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines, and it has been at least two weeks since their final dose.
• Up to date on vaccinations: A person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible. A person is considered "boosted" and up to date right after getting their booster dose.

Updated quarantine and isolation guidelines

The CDC recently updated their guidelines for quarantine and isolation, and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) followed suit. The Met Council has adopted these guidelines for determining when staff must quarantine or isolation and when they can return to work.

After you have read and understand the definitions above, read on for the updated guidance on quarantine, isolation, and return to work.

Divisions may also have specific guidelines in addition to these Councilwide requirements. Please review any guidelines your division leaders have shared.

If you have any questions, please talk with your supervisor or manager.

When to quarantine and next steps:

Visit the MDH website for full information on close contacts and quarantine.

If you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, figure out if you need to quarantine and review your next steps:

* If you need to quarantine, stay away from others. If possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom if you can. Avoid sharing personal household items (for example, food, dishes, towels, or bedding). Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home.

Household exposure

If you live with someone who has COVID-19, stay home during the ill person's isolation period (5 days) and then begin your own quarantine period (5 days) on the day that the ill person's isolation period ends.

• Count the last day of their isolation as day 0.
• Day 1 of your quarantine starts the day after their isolation period ends.

When to isolate and next steps:

Visit the MDH website for full guidance if you are sick or test positive.

The time that people must stay away from others (isolation) is now shorter if they have no symptoms or are only mildly ill. The isolation time is now at least five days, followed by another five days of wearing a mask at all times when around other people.

1) Isolate if you tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.

2) Isolate for at least 5 days, following these guidelines:

• Mask: Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days when around others, even at home.
• Stay away from others: Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible, and avoid contact with other members of the household and pets. Use a separate bathroom, if possible. Take steps to make the flow of air in your home better, if possible.
• Tell your close contacts, including people who are fully vaccinated, that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Determine when you can end your isolation and return to work:
  
  

3) After your period of isolation ends, continue to take the following precautions for another five days (until day 10):

• Continue to wear a well-fitted mask, even at home.
• Avoid being around people who are at high risk.
• Do not go to places where you will need to take off your mask to take part in an activity (e.g., gyms, restaurants) and avoid eating near others at home and work.
• Avoid travel. If you must travel after your period to stay home ends, wear a well-fitted mask.
• If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period.

Review the full quarantine and isolation guidelines on the CDC website.

This new isolation and quarantine guidance emphasizes the continued need to wear masks to prevent COVID-19 transmission. MDH continues to recommend layered prevention strategies to slow the spread: Minnesotans should get vaccinated, get boosted when eligible, wear masks in indoor public places, get tested when recommended, wash hands frequently, and stay home if you are sick.

Change in coverage for COVID-19 treatment

The special federal guidelines allowing coverage at 100% for COVID-19 treatment expired Dec. 31. In an effort to provide sufficient notification of this change to staff, the Met Council has decided to continue covering COVID-19 treatment at 100% for January and February. However, starting March 1 it will be covered under the medical plan design in which you are enrolled.

This means any treatment for COVID-19 will run through claims the same as all other healthcare claims on our group plans. This change does not impact the 100% coverage for COVID-19 testing as required for unvaccinated employees at the Met Council or for any other COVID-19 testing an employee may pursue.

If you have questions about any COVID-19 treatment you may incur, call HealthPartners Member Services at 952-883-5000.

Updated vaccination offerings from Well@Work

Vaccine for ages 5+

You can now schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the Well@Work clinics for anyone age 5 or older.

Booster shots available

Pfizer (Comirnaty) boosters are available at the Well@Work clinics for those eligible. You can get a booster at Well@Work even if you didn’t receive your initial vaccine series there.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, review these resources from HealthPartners:

• Latest COVID-19 vaccination eligibility
• COVID-19 vaccines for kids and teens
• COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots

Scheduling your appointment

Well@Work offers the Pfizer vaccine, and vaccination appointments are available on Mondays and Thursdays. Visit the Well@Work page on MetNet for clinic hours and instructions for scheduling your appointment.

A mask or face covering is required at all times while in the Well@Work clinics. Employees and dependents 18 months and older on the Met Council-sponsored health plan can be seen at either the Saint Paul or Minneapolis clinic.

Tools to help you find vaccination opportunities

As of Tuesday (Jan. 18), 3,813,784 Minnesotans had received at least one vaccine dose and 3,573,445 people had completed the vaccine series. For up-to-date information on vaccine availability and distribution, visit the Minnesota Department of Health vaccine dashboard.   Our progress so far – and our path forward – relies on Minnesotans getting the vaccine. The vaccines are free, safe, and effective, and all Minnesotans age 5 and over can get one right now. Many sites are now offering walk-in appointments.   Check out these tools to find vaccine appointments: Schedule an appointment at either of the Met Council's Well@Work clinics. COVID-19 vaccines are available on Mondays and Thursdays, appointments are required, and masks are required at all times in the Well@Work clinics. Schedule an appointment at one of the state's Community Vaccination Program sites. Use the state's Vaccine Locator map to search for vaccine providers in your area. Schedule an appointment on the HealthPartners COVID-19 site or the M Health Fairview COVID-19 site. Go to CDC: VaccineFinder to schedule an appointment for a vaccine at a pharmacy near you. Make sure you're reading this regular all-staff COVID-19 email to get the latest on vaccination opportunities, guidelines, and more. For more information about the vaccine and how to find an appointment, visit the Minnesota Department of Health vaccine site.   Important reminders related to the vaccine: The CDC has made a distinction between "up to date" and "fully vaccinated." Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible. A person is fully vaccinated two weeks after the final dose of their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines. Even if you are up to date on your vaccinations, you should continue to follow safety recommendations by public health officials and get tested if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19. The Met Council is not currently collecting COVID-19 vaccine booster information. Please do not attempt to upload booster information into ESS until further notice.

Expanded testing options through USPS, HealthPartners

Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider and seek testing, regardless of their vaccination status.   Ways you can get a COVID-19 test: Walk in or schedule an appointment for a free test at one of the state’s COVID-19 Community Testing Sites across Minnesota. Order a free at-home test through the state’s COVID-19 Test at Home program. New! Order free at-home rapid tests through the United States Postal Service. Find a testing option near you through the state's Find Testing Locations map. If you have a HealthPartners medical plan, visit their website for testing information.   The federal government recently announced a new offering and new mandate to make testing easier: The federal government is offering free at-home COVID-19 tests. Households can order one set of four free at-home rapid tests by filling out a form on the United States Postal Service website. Health insurance must cover the cost of over-the-counter rapid tests. HealthPartners will now cover the cost of over-the-counter COVID-19 rapid tests completed at home. HealthPartners is developing both a direct purchase option, so members don't have to pay out of pocket, and a reimbursement process. Only tests obtained on or after Jan. 15 will be eligible. Full details and instructions about coverage and requesting reimbursement will be available soon on the HealthPartners website.   Important reminder: At-home rapid tests are for personal use. At-home rapid test results are not accepted for employees in the Met Council's weekly testing program or for our COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave available to employees who have been vaccinated.

Announcements for teleworking staff

No date has been set to return teleworking staff to the office

Teleworking staff should continue working remotely until further notice. We will continue to regularly evaluate conditions and will give Met Council employees at least 30 days' notice prior to fully transitioning employees back into the office. Given the growth in COVID-19 cases and rates of hospitalizations and the prevalence of the Omicron variant, no return-to-office date has been set at this time.

Required trainings for all teleworking staff

All teleworking staff are required to complete two trainings in Learn before their teams implement their new schedules: one on the updated Telework Procedure and one on working in the new hybrid workplace, where some staff will be onsite and some will be remote.

• All teleworking staff: LOD Telework at the Council​
• One for managers/supervisors and one for employees: 
  • LOD Managing a Hybrid Team (managers/supervisors of te​leworking employees)
  • LOD ​Effective Teamwork in ​Hybrid Environments (teleworking employees)

The trainings are not assigned in Learn, so staff must use the direct links provided here or locate the trainings in Learn by using the search bar (click the magnifying glass icon in the menu ba​​r).

Technology purchases: P-Card or ITR?

Computer equipment is top of mind for many employees who are arranging their longer-term work setups, whether it is onsite, hybrid, or remote. To make things a little easier, check out the MetNet announcement for some important reminders, including: purchasing technology items with a P-Card vs. ITR, returning surplus equipment, how to get tech support, and equipment recommendations from Information Services.

Telework Transition FAQs

Teleworkers can review the Telework Transition FAQ page on MetNet for details and tools to help in planning for and implementing their new schedules.

Check the MetNet pages, FAQs

For the most current information related to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the MetNet page and be sure to review the FAQs for employees and managers. The telework transition FAQ page has details for teleworking staff. They are updated as we have new information to communicate.

For Metro Transit work instructions and daily updates on new COVID-19 cases reported at each worksite, visit the Metro Transit MetNet page. For job aids and facilities updates for Environmental Services related to COVID-19, visit the Environmental Services page.

If you have questions, talk to your manager or supervisor or submit a question or concern in the online COVID-19 form.

Check out the latest issues of our internal newsletters:

• Insights (Transit): Jan. 7 and Jan. 14
• The Wire: Jan. 11
• HR Connect: Jan. 13 and Jan. 20
• ES Update: Jan. 18

For those who cannot easily access MetNet and/or would like a printable PDF of the FAQs, here are the most recent versions of these pages:

• Employee FAQ: Jan. 20 (PDF)
• Manager FAQ: Jan. 20 (PDF)

Met Council workforce statistics

The following statistics related to COVID-19 have been reported to the Employee Resource Center. The "active positive COVID-19" number is the number of employees who currently have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The "cumulative" number marks the total number of employees who received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis since the pandemic began. The second table breaks down the positive cases by division for Community Development (CD), Environmental Services (ES), Metro Transit (MT), Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS), and Regional Administration (RA).

Employees with positive COVID-19 diagnosis:

Employees with positive COVID-19 diagnosis by division:

These division numbers are reported by Human Resources weekly. This table reflects changes since the last update email (Jan. 6).