What must an employee with a sore throat and fever provide to return to work?

An employee with a sore throat and fever is often experiencing symptoms that could indicate a contagious illness, such as streptococcal infection, especially in food handling environments. To ensure the safety of coworkers and the public, it is essential for the employee to provide a doctor's note along with a negative strep test result. This documentation confirms that the employee is not carrying a harmful bacteria that could be transmitted through food preparation, serving, or handling.

The requirement of both a doctor's note and a negative test serves to verify the individual's health status, ensuring compliance with health regulations designed to protect public health in food service settings. The presence of a sore throat and fever can increase the risk of transmitting infections, making it critical for food handlers to clear such symptoms before returning to work.