Earlier this year, New York State laid out procedures for employers and employees regarding leave for COVID-19 related conditions. However, these guidelines carved out exceptions for those individuals working in the health care sector. Recently, the state has released guidance regarding COVID-19 leave for these individuals. 

- Any health care employee who returns to work after the end of a mandatory quarantine/isolation order and who is still determined to have COVID-19 must not return to the worksite under any circumstances. The employee is entitled to use New York State COVID-19 Sick Leave (regardless of whether or not the employee has used this leave previously). If the COVID-19 detection test was administered off-site, the employee must submit documentation from a health care provider confirming the COVID-19 diagnosis to be allowed continued use of leave.

- Any employee who continues to test positive for COVID-19 even after the first order of quarantine expires will similarly be entitled to another stretch of New York State COVID-19 Sick Leave.

This cycle will be allowed up to three times. The second and third round of COVID-19 leave must be preceded by documented positive COVID-19 test results. 

You can read the entire document HERE.