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Mission Hospital has set new guidelines for staff exposed to coronavirus. Posted on the employee resource website Mission & Me, the guidelines spell out what hospital workers should do in the event they physically contact someone positive with COVID-19.

Employees without symptoms who come into direct contact with a COVID-19 positive person outside of work will be expected to use paid time off or leave without pay while quarantining.

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Mission's online guidelines state: "Should quarantine or social distancing be required, employees will follow normal absence protocol: PTO or leave without pay." These guidelines, sent to at least some staff on March 19, direct any employees exposed to COVID-19 positive individuals to contact their supervisors and their employee health clinic.

Mission staff who come into direct contact with a COVID-19 positive patient on duty at a Mission facility will be expected to reach out to their supervisor and their employee health clinic. Mission Health spokeswoman Nancy Lindell said under such circumstances, employees would be placed under a 14-day home quarantine, and Mission "would continue to pay the base salary for the colleague during that time."

The Senate-backed billion dollar aid package that President Donald Trump signed on March 18 provides paid sick leave for millions of Americans, yet the bill contains potential exemptions for hospitals.

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Mission's guidelines advise employees who show symptoms to contact their primary care provider, their supervisor and HCA Healthcare's Times Away From Work Service Center to inquire about short-term disability benefit eligibility.

According to the CDC, people are most contagious when they show symptoms, though asymptomatic people can spread the virus as well.

At the Charles George VA Medical Center, Public Affairs Officer Vance Janes said Asheville's VA hospital has not changed its sick leave policy due to coronavirus. VA policy grants employees leave without pay if they have no remaining earned leave days.

Pardee Hospital offers an “Employee Illness Bank” to help compensate staff during extended sick leave. Melanie Sleime, director of human resources for Pardee UNC Health, said asymptomatic employees who came into contact with COVID-19 positive individuals are eligible for the illness bank program.

AdventHealth in Hendersonville did not respond to questions regarding any changes to its sick leave policies.

Brian Gordon is the education and social issues reporter for The Asheville Citizen Times. He can be reached at bgordon@citizentimes.com, at 828-232-5851, or on Twitter at @briansamuel92.