Maybe. Staff in some occupations work with people at higher risk for contracting the disease, like in health care, or long-term care facilities. Or, they have more frequent contact with members of the general public who may not be social distancing or wearing face coverings, like in the retail or hospitality (food/hotel) industries.

Most health care workers and first responders are recommended to be tested once every 4 weeks, and most other critical infrastructure personnel are recommended to be tested at least once a month, however your employer may decide you should be tested more frequently. Discuss with your employer if they have made any arrangements for scheduled testing.

Testing on a routine basis (at least once a month) should be considered for employees in these occupations. Increased testing may be needed if an outbreak occurs:

  • Retail operations
  • Food Service
  • Cosmetology, tattoo and massage
  • Education, including Early Childhood
  • Dentistry
  • Postmortem care
  • Social services and home visitors
  • Meat and poultry processing
  • Manufacturing
  • Laboratory
  • Airline and other transport operations
  • Volunteers providing frontline services
  • Border protection and transportation security
  • Correctional facility operations
  • Solid waste and wastewater management
  • Environmental (i.e., janitorial) services
Population Frequency Notes
Correctional Facilities
Incarcerated Persons Twice At booking and at conclusion of quarantine (Day 15) prior to release into general population
Post-Acute Care Facilities (non-outbreak conditions)
Asymptomatic Residents Once every 4 weeks Testing on a rotating basis (e.g., 25% of residents each week)
Asymptomatic Staff Once every week Testing on a rotating basis (e.g., 20% of staff daily)
Congregate Settings
Shelters Twice At facility admission, as well as testing on a rotating basis (e.g., 25% of all persons each week)
Custodial Care Sites (such as Group Homes) Twice At facility admission, as well as testing on a rotating basis (25% of all persons each week)
Workforce and Community
Asymptomatic Health care Workers and First Responders Once every 4 weeks Testing on a rotating basis e.g., 25% of staff each week)
Asymptomatic Critical Infrastructure Personnel (non-healthcare/first responder) Once a month minimum Testing can be more frequent, but no more frequent than once every 14 days.