Who is considered to be essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Essential (critical infrastructure) workers include health care personnel and employees in other essential workplaces (e.g., first responders and grocery store workers).

What should an essential employee do if they are exposed to COVID-19?

Critical infrastructure employees who have been exposed but remain symptom-free and must return to in-person work should adhere to the following practices before and during their work shift: • Pre-screen for symptoms • Monitor regularly for symptoms • Wear a cloth face covering • Practice social distancing• Clean and disinfect workspaces Employees with symptoms should be sent home and should not return to the workplace until they have met the criteria to discontinue home isolation.

Are workers in the human and animal food and feed sector considered part of the essential infrastructure workforce?

See full answerYes, in a guidance issued by Department of Homeland Security on March 19 Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19, workers in the Food and Agriculture sector – agricultural production, food processing, distribution, retail and food service and allied industries – are named as essential critical infrastructure workers. Promoting the ability of our workers within the food and agriculture industry to continue to work during periods of community restrictions, social distances, and closure orders, among others, is crucial to community continuity and community resilience.

Will there be animal food shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

There are no nationwide shortages of animal food, although in some cases the inventory of certain foods at your grocery store might be temporarily low before stores can restock.

What is the FDA’s role in helping to ensure the safety of the human and animal food supply?

To protect public health, the FDA monitors domestic firms and the foods that they produce. The FDA also monitors imported products and foreign firms exporting to the United States. The FDA protects consumers from unsafe foods through research and methods development; inspection and sampling; and regulatory and legal action.

How long does it take for the COVID-19 symptoms to start showing?

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Is the U.S. food supply safe?

See full answerCurrently there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19.Unlike foodborne gastrointestinal (GI) viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is a virus that causes respiratory illness and not gastrointestinal illness, and foodborne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission.It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. It’s always important to follow the 4 key steps of food safety—clean, separate, cook, and chill.

Is the U.S. animal food supply safe from the COVID-19?

A: Currently there is no evidence of animal food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19.Foodborne exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 is not known to be a route of transmission.

what is the FDA responsible for?

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

How does FDA’s temporary flexibility regarding the Egg Safety Rule help during COVID-19?

See full answerThe Temporary Policy Regarding Enforcement of 21 CFR Part 118 (the Egg Safety Rule) During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency provides producers of shell eggs that normally would be sent to facilities for further processing, the flexibility to sell their eggs for distribution to retail locations, such as supermarkets, when certain conditions are present. This flexibility will help egg producers meet increased demand for shell eggs by consumers at retail locations while still ensuring the safety of eggs.See the Constituent Update (FDA Provides Temporary Flexibility Regarding the Egg Safety Rule During COVID-19 Pandemic While Still Ensuring the Safety of Eggs) for more information.

How long does it take for symptoms of COVID-19 to appear after exposure?

Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.