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ATCEMS medic who tested positive for COVID-19 approved to return to work soon, along with others who have been self-isolating

According to new CDC guidelines released on Wednesday, essential workers are allowed to return to work as long as they aren't showing symptoms.

AUSTIN, Texas — According to new CDC guidelines, essential workers who may have been exposed to COVID-19 can now return to work as long as they aren't showing symptoms. 

Austin-Travis County EMS says a medic who tested positive for COVID-19 will soon return to work, along with other medics who have been self-isolating out of an abundance of caution.

Captain Christina Stedman said the biggest change they've made to their daily operations this week is that all medics are required to wear masks on their calls.

"For everyone that's returning to work, we're following all the CDC guidelines, and not just the CDC guidelines for other essential workers but specifically to the healthcare workers and when they're cleared to return to work," said Captain Stedman.

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For the last month, all 500 medics have been required to log their temperatures daily. 

"Our medic that tested positive has been cleared to work by the physicians at [Austin Public Health]," said Stedman

Stedman said, overall, their call volume has been down and they aren't getting as many people asking to go to the emergency room for COVID-19 symptoms.

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