What if an employee (Operator or Team Member) has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 or believe that they may have COVID-19? 

  • Employees should notify their supervisor of the confirmed diagnosis. 

  • Employees should seek advice from a medical provider and follow their recommended treatment and isolation guidelines.   

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? 

  • Symptoms may include fever, cough and shortness of breath generally appearing two to 14 days after exposure. 

What if an employee (not showing symptoms) has been exposed to an individual (family member, fellow co-worker, etc.) with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19? 

  • Employees should notify their supervisor of the exposure. 

  • Employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 but maintain confidentiality of the sick employee as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

  • Employees exposed should refer to the CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure to determine the best course of action from monitoring to home care and possible isolation. 

How is the virus believed to be spread? 

  • The virus has been confirmed to have community spread, which means it can spread from one person to another. While all the transmission methods are not fully known, most medical experts believe the virus is most readily spread through respiratory droplets (sneezing/coughing) between individuals who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet for a prolonged period of time). Medical experts further believe that the spread is most probable when individuals are exhibiting symptoms, but there have been some reported cases of transmission from symptom-free individuals. 

  • Although not thought to be the main form of transmission, the spread of the virus can likely occur through touching a contaminated surface and subsequently touching one’s mouth, nose or possibly eyes. 

  • Early research evidence suggests that the virus can remain on contaminated surfaces for anywhere from a few hours up to nine days depending on the surface type. The virus can survive longer on hard, cold surfaces. High temperatures, such as those used in cooking or dishwashing, generally kills this type of virus. Research is ongoing.

  • Currently, there is no evidence that the virus is transmitted through contaminated food. The Support Center will continue to monitor CDC’s research on any food transmission risks. 

How can employees help prevent or reduce the spread of COVID-19? 

  • Prevention is everyone’s responsibility! 

  • If an employee feels like they are sick, are becoming sick, or have a known exposure to COVID-19, the CDC recommends self-isolation for 14 days from the date of last exposure or until symptoms fully subside. 

  • Thorough hand washing is considered one of the best defenses to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap can reduce the spread of germs. Best practice for team members is to wash hands at least once per hour. According to the CDC, hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol content) can provide an additional way to potentially reduce contamination on hands, but it shouldn’t replace proper hand washing. Our Purell Sanitizing Hand Wipes meet this alcohol content criteria, while our Kay Foaming Hand Sanitizer does not, as it is formulated to kill bacteria that cause foodborne illness.  

  • Individuals are strongly encouraged to refrain from touching their face and recommend only to do so once proper hand washing has occurred. 

  • Routine cleaning and disinfection of all frequently touched surfaces using Chick-fil-A-approved cleaning and disinfection agents are strongly recommended. Be sure to follow the label instructions for disinfection use. 

  • The two disinfectants currently available in our supply chain (Purell Surface Sanitizer disinfectant spray and Kay Insta-Use disinfectant) are approved for killing the virus. Our surface sanitizers (KayQuat II, Solidsense Sanitizer, and Sani Professional No Rinse Sanitizing Wipes) are not approved for killing viruses and are instead formulated to kill bacteria that cause foodborne illness.  

Should employees wear face masks? 

  • Medical experts continue to emphasize that masks are not recommended for the general public and generally should be reserved for those that are experiencing respiratory symptoms (cough/sneezing) to help protect against the possible spread of the virus. 

  • For those that are immunocompromised or at higher risk, consultation should be sought from a qualified medical provider. 

What if an employee has recently traveled overseas for business or pleasure?   

  • The CDC has currently issued travel advisories for five countries including China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. No domestic travel advisories have been issued to date. 

  • For travelers who are returning from a high-risk area, the CDC is recommending home isolation for a period of 14 days from the departure of the affected area. If symptoms manifest, consultation with a medical provider is recommended. 

  • Employees meeting the above criteria should contact their supervisor and make arrangements to comply with the CDC guidelines.