Hospitals around the U.S. are increasingly taking the extraordinary step of allowing nurses and other workers infected with the coronavirus to stay on the job if they have mild symptoms or none at all.
California health authorities announced over the weekend that hospital staff members who test positive but are symptom-free could continue working.
Some hospitals in Rhode Island and Arizona have likewise told employees they can stay on the job if they have no symptoms or just mild ones.
Many hospitals are not only swamped with cases but severely shorthanded because of so many employees out with COVID-19.
In the Phoenix area, Dignity Health, a major hospital operator, sent a memo to staff members saying those infected with the virus who feel well enough to work may request clearance from their managers to go back to caring for patients.
In California, the Department of Public Health said the new policy was prompted by "Critical staffing shortages." It asked hospitals to ensure every attempt to fill openings by bringing in employees from outside staffing agencies.
"We did not ask for this guidance, and we don't have any information on whether hospitals will adopt this approach or not," said Jan Emerson-Shea, a spokesperson for the California Hospital Association.
At Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, chief medical officer Dr Hany Atallah said they are not yet at the breaking point and workers who test positive are staying away for five days.
Kevin Cho Tipton, a nurse at Jackson Memorial, said he understands why hospitals are eager to have employees come back after five days of isolation.
