Update to CDC List of Higher Risk Individuals

Good morning, Faculty and Staff,

We received the following information from the University System of Georgia last evening regarding the CDC’s expanded list of conditions that places one at higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19. The employee coronavirus and HR Workplace and COVID web pages have been updated to reflect the new guidance.

The date to apply for alternate work arrangements or accommodations due to having one of these conditions has been extended to July 13. More information on the process can be found on the HR Workplace and COVID web page, which includes the USG COVID-19 Alternate Work Arrangement Request Form and the USG Reasonable Accommodations Request Form.

From the USG:

Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for managing COVID-19 related issues.  Among the changes are to definitions for people who will need extra precaution due to age and underlying medical conditions.  In response to those changes from the CDC, the University System of Georgia is providing updated guidance on who is eligible to seek alternate work arrangements due to falling into one of these categories. 

Older Adults

The CDC no longer gives a minimum age for those at risk.  The USG will continue to use 65 as its measure for evaluating requests for alternate work arrangements.  Individuals who are younger than 65 can provide documentation from a health care provider that their age is a determining factor for risk that should prevent them from working on campus as scheduled.

People of Any Age with Underlying Medical Conditions

People with the following underlying medical conditions may request alternate work arrangements under the previously developed process:

1. Chronic kidney disease
2. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
3. Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
4. Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
5. Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
6. Sickle cell disease
7. Type 2 diabetes mellitus
8. Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
9. Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
10. Cystic fibrosis
11. Hypertension or high blood pressure
12. Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
13. Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
14. Liver disease
15. Pregnancy
16. Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
17. Smoking
18. Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
19. Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Please contact me if you have any questions.