Health care workers visiting Disney

[littledebbie335]

Hi DisFam!

Please feel free to delete or move if this is in the wrong place, but I tried to search for this answer and couldn't find it.

DH and I are both vaccinated (yay!) and are considering a trip in late spring, but I was just looking on the WDW website and saw one of the conditions in the health acknowledgments and my heart sank: "have not been in contact with someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 symptoms without completing a 14-day quarantine."

DH is a health care worker and occasionally has COVID positive patients or suspected COVID patients (he doesn't work on a COVID floor or anything, so he can't predict when he might encounter one of these patients). He is ALWAYS fully covered in PPE (N95, face shield, gloves, gown)...to the point that his work does not consider that an exposure and he doesn't need to quarantine or anything. But does this mean we can't visit Disney unless he takes 2 weeks off of work ahead of time? (which would not be possible for us) Anyone have any experience with this?

He is a front line health care worker and I'm an infectious disease researcher...it's been a long year for us both and we could really use a vacation, so I hope that I'm over-interpreting this guideline. But it makes me sad to think that I'm probably right in assuming we're not welcome there right now (which is super frustrating, since we've been staying home, social distancing, not eating in restaurants, etc etc...probably less likely to be positive than people who have been going to the bar or having large social gatherings). I do not want to a risk a lifetime ban for breaking the rules!!

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I do not work for the CDC. I work for a local governmental entity so I track the CDC guidance for health care personnel. The CDC just changed policy for asymptomatic health care personnel like 10-14 days ago. There are no work restrictions for Health Care Personnel that have had contact with COVID-19 patients; provided that, (1) he/she is vaccinated; and, (2) he/she was wearing PPE (i.e. following safety measures). The idea here is that if the work imposes restrictions on return to work, you need to follow them, but the CDC isn't requiring a mandatory quarantine. If you start to be symptomatic, you need to stay home. But, overall, those persons who are asymptomatic and have been vaccinated and have implemented the workplace safety measures (i.e. PPE and sanitizing, etc.) you do not have to stay away from work. Although the CDC does not give guidance to Health Care Personnel about theme park attendance, the implication here is that the person is safe in the public just as much as they are safe to return to work.

I do not believe that WDW's rules are meant to be interpreted with the same level of scrutiny that you are reading them. The idea behind WDW's rules are that if you are not practicing safety measures and have close contact with a COVID-19 case, then you need to complete a 14-day quarantine just like your DH would have to if he broke his work rules and contacted a COVID-19 patient without wearing his mask. That would be a one way ticket to quarantine. WDW knows, full-well, that health care professionals attend the parks and Disney Springs. They aren't looking to ban those folks.

Now, if your DH or you or anyone has symptoms, then you are going to have to stay home and that's a reality for anyone looking to holiday at WDW. But, I don't think you all are going to get the "Pete Rose treatment" from WDW. I would encourage you to contact guest relations at WDW and find out if there is further guidance about attendance for health care personnel.

 

[Jen309]

I’m a rule follower (and healthcare worker) too. IMO, you’re fine, no need to quarantine. Agree with above that if you had unprotected exposure, it might be a different story.

 

[samsonjs]

I thought CDC said if you have been vaccinated you do not need to quarantine if you have been exposed.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Yeah I am a nurse who sometimes has a covid positive patient. I always feel awkward at doctor offices when they ask if I have had any exposure but I always say no because I am wearing full PPE and it isn’t really an exposure. Now if my kid had covid - that would count but patients don’t since I am always protected. I don’t think they mean these protected situations at all.

 

[auntlynne]

A little nurse humor here - if “exposure” occurs just by taking care of someone with COVID, you would have to quarantine after each shift you worked. There would be no staff after a few days.

But is sad that some workers have had to quarantine from their families just to keep them safe.

great question; I didn’t think of that, as I have seen many posts by healthcare workers who were excited for their WDW trip.

 

[leebee]

This reminds me of one of the screening questions asked to determine if you are eligible for free civid-testing: "In the last 14 days, have you been in contact with anyone who has, or who potentially could have, Covid-19?" Isn't the answer to that always going to be "yes?" Don't we make and distance because others could potentially have covid and be asymptomatic, or just not showing symptoms yet? Makes me laugh/shake my head.

 

[LiveLifeLoud]

CDC guidelines are if you have been vaccinated you do not need to quarantine if you’ve been exposed. Go and enjoy your trip!

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

I just want to THANK YOU for caring!!

I hope you have a great time in WDW!!

 

[MudQueen22]

This reminds me of one of the screening questions asked to determine if you are eligible for free civid-testing: "In the last 14 days, have you been in contact with anyone who has, or who potentially could have, Covid-19?" Isn't the answer to that always going to be "yes?" Don't we make and distance because others could potentially have covid and be asymptomatic, or just not showing symptoms yet? Makes me laugh/shake my head.

THIS. Perfectly stated.

I teach, and there is always the possibility that one of my students could be sharing the plague. There would be no way for me to know either way.
Until my waiting period was over after the second shot, I continued to wear an N95 mask. I suppose at that time I could honestly say that I hadn't been exposed since I had a better mask. I now just wear a cloth one since I'm vaxed.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

A little nurse humor here - if “exposure” occurs just by taking care of someone with COVID, you would have to quarantine after each shift you worked. There would be no staff after a few days.

But is sad that some workers have had to quarantine from their families just to keep them safe.

great question; I didn’t think of that, as I have seen many posts by healthcare workers who were excited for their WDW trip.

This!

 

[snappy]

I just want to THANK YOU for caring!!

I hope you have a great time in WDW!!

I also want to express my thanks and admiration. We would have been so much worse off without the unwavering dedication of health care providers. I was also worried about my husband being able to get all the prescription medication deliveries on time or even period. I am grateful for the people who kept everything on course.

 

[C&Jx2]

A little nurse humor here - if “exposure” occurs just by taking care of someone with COVID, you would have to quarantine after each shift you worked. There would be no staff after a few days.

But is sad that some workers have had to quarantine from their families just to keep them safe.

great question; I didn’t think of that, as I have seen many posts by healthcare workers who were excited for their WDW trip.

I’m an RN. At my hospital these are considered low risk exposures because of PPE being used so it “doesn’t count”.

 

[Diana ZP]

I am glad you brought this up- I too am in healthcare, radiology dept, still seeing a number of folks with possible COVID and am thinking of going in middle of May...might be a solo trip, first time, and I read that on the site too. I know the CDC had relaxed its guidelines so I was hoping Disney was following suit. Thanks for all you and Dh do- take care and be safe!

 

[Cynt]

Thank you healthcare workers for your service.

 

[DisneyMama811]

This reminds me of one of the screening questions asked to determine if you are eligible for free civid-testing: "In the last 14 days, have you been in contact with anyone who has, or who potentially could have, Covid-19?" Isn't the answer to that always going to be "yes?" Don't we make and distance because others could potentially have covid and be asymptomatic, or just not showing symptoms yet? Makes me laugh/shake my head.

I'm a healthcare worker too and at the start AND end of my shift they ask "have you been outside of Canada in the past 14 days" the border is closed...where am I gonna go?

 

[DisneyMama811]

as a fellow healthcare worker thanks for posting this question, I never thought of this.

 

[horse11]

Yeah I am a nurse who sometimes has a covid positive patient. I always feel awkward at doctor offices when they ask if I have had any exposure but I always say no because I am wearing full PPE and it isn’t really an exposure. Now if my kid had covid - that would count but patients don’t since I am always protected. I don’t think they mean these protected situations at all.

I am a lab tec and I always felt funny answering the question...." have you been exposed to blood?" when donate blood at the Red Cross.... BUT I believe like you they mean unprotected.... no mask no vaccine...

 

[littledebbie335]

I started this thread and then forgot to check back! Thanks everyone for your kind words; I feel so much better about visiting in a way that's compliant with the COVID rules!

 

[Dreamingstill]

I am also a RN vaccinated and planning a trip. At the hospital if you are properly wearing PPE you are not considered exposed. Have a great trip you deserve it.