Coronavirus Veterinarian Clinic Guidance
Kentucky Department for Public Health
What if a Veterinary staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19?
- No one should work while ill
- The local health department (LHD) will be given the results
- The LHD will follow up with the positive patient
- The patient will be either:
- Be hospitalized
- Isolated at home if not ill enough to be hospitalized
- To be released from isolation:
- A minimum of 7 days since onset of symptoms
- Have all symptoms resolved
- Be 72 hours fever free (without antipyretics)
- Contacts will be investigated and a risk assessment is done to determine the risk of each employee
- LHD will determine if anyone is at high risk and needs a 14 days quarantine
- Different LHD’s have different capacity for monitoring, so some may be monitored daily and some may not
- Staff should consider:
- Practice social distancing during work hours to minimize risk
- Take temperatures of employees at the beginning of the workday, send anyone home with a fever to prevent exposures
- Maintain Social distancing with clients
- Curbside pick-up and drop off for pets
- Consider telemedicine, as appropriate, with clients with established vet-client-patient relationship
What if a client is diagnosed with COVID-19?
- To date, there is no evidence that domestic animals can get sick or are able to transmit COVID 19
- Recommend a healthy person bring the animal in but avoid unnecessary procedures or visits
- Staff that brings the animal into the clinic, should wear gloves, eye, and respiratory protection
- Notification to the State Public Health Veterinarian is not required, but is available if you have questions: 502-682-4048
- Cleaning is accomplished with standard cleaning and disinfecting products. Follow instructions, especially contact time. Focus on high touch areas.
