NJ CAR remains committed to keeping its members up to date on the ever-changing information and best practices during the COVID-19 crisis.
Recently, the CDC expanded its definition of “close contact” for purposes of contact tracing. Previously, “close contact” was defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected individual for at least 15 consecutive minutes. Those who had more fleeting contact, even if it was more frequent contact, would not have been considered to be in “close contact” under the old definition.
The CDC now defines “close contact” as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected individual for at least a total of 15 minutes over a 24-hour period. Now, under this definition, someone who was within 6 feet of an infected individual for 5 minutes, then 2 minutes, then 8 minutes over 24 hours is considered to have been in “close contact” with the sick person and must now be notified of the exposure and required to stay home from work.
Dealers should update their COVID-19 policies in accordance with these changes because the Murphy Administration has incorporated the CDC’s guidelines into its Executive and Administrative Order, giving them the force of law in New Jersey.