Mitigating staff shortages: Risk of permitting healthcare workers to return to work after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure

Critical staffing shortages have compelled hospitals to allow healthcare workers (HCWs) with low-risk COVID-19 exposures to continue to work. We performed SARS-CoV-2 PCR surveillance of asymptomatic HCWs allowed to work with masks after a low-risk COVID-19 exposure. A total of 66 HCWs participated and 5 (7.6%) were found to be PCR positive. Asymptomatic HCWs with low-risk exposures may represent a significant transmission risk.