GIRARD — After testing positive for COVID-19, a Girard post office employee has returned to work.

According to another Girard postal worker, who did not want to be identified, the worker who previously tested positive for COVID-19 is back on the job just one week after employees there had been informed of the worker’s illness.

Neither the U.S. Postal Service nor the Trumbull County Combined Health District commented Monday on the health status of the individual or his quick return.

“The Postal Service is following CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and public health guidelines concerning COVID-19, including but not limited to the work status of any employee who may have tested positive, but the Postal Service cannot comment on a particular employee,” said Naddia Dhalai, strategic communication specialist for the Northern Ohio District and Ohio Valley District.

The post office has remained open, and an outside firm had been brought in last Tuesday to disinfect the work areas.

Due to HIPAA privacy laws, the name of the worker and the nature of his illness have not been revealed.

According to Sandy Swann, director of nursing at the Trumbull County Combined Health District, he may not be violating any policies and may have been released from isolation.

The combined health district also follows the CDC guidelines when it comes to how COVID-19 cases are handled.

“If someone has the illness, we use the seven-, three-day rule,” said Swann, who said the strict quarantine is for those who tested positive and are sick.

These guidelines state that you can stop home isolation seven days after symptoms first appeared and three full days without a fever or needing to use medicine to reduce a fever.

Those who will be tested again can stop home isolation after they no longer have a fever or need medication to reduce it, other symptoms have improved and if they receive two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart.

“If they followed these guidelines, then it’s possible they were released from quarantine,” said Swann, adding that it could take weeks before they test negative. “They may not be infectious.”

The U.S. Postal Service and health experts have maintained that it is unlikely a person infected with COVID-19 could contaminate packages or mail because items are shipped over a period of days at ambient temperatures.

The CDC states that no cases of COVID-19 have been associated with packages or mailed items.