{"id":4995,"date":"2020-08-20T10:11:49","date_gmt":"2020-08-20T14:11:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/?p=4995"},"modified":"2020-09-16T10:58:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-16T14:58:24","slug":"north-carolina-guidelines-for-people-attending-workers-compensation-hearings-during-the-covid-19-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/north-carolina-guidelines-for-people-attending-workers-compensation-hearings-during-the-covid-19-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina Guidelines for People Attending Workers\u2019 Compensation Hearings During the COVID-19 PANDEMIC"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ic.nc.gov\/Guidelines%20for%20In-Person%20Hearings%207-16-20.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The guidelines for North Carolina Industrial Commission hearings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as of July 2020, are the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><i>You have COVID-19 symptoms<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should not attend a hearing. You should not enter a courthouse or hearing room. You should contact the deputy commissioner by email or telephone to receive further instructions.<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centers for Disease and Control (US CDC) considers that the following are symptoms of COVID-19:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFever or chills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cough<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle or body aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headache<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New loss of taste or smell<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore throat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congestion or runny nose<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea or vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diarrhea\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b><i>You\u2019ve tested positive for COVID-19- unless you\u2019ve recovered from the disease and the time since the illness onset and recovery, as set by the US CDC, has passed<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve tested positive and the CDC recommended time since the disease onset\/recovery hasn\u2019t elapsed, you must not attend the hearing and must notify the presiding Deputy Commissioner by email telephone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC recovery is defined as all of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cResolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progressive improvement or resolution of other symptoms<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As of July 1, 2020, the CDC-recommended amount of time that must pass since illness onset and recovery is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAt least 10 days after illness onset; and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at least 3 days (72 hours) after recovery (meaning no fever for at least 3 days (72 hours) and progressive improvement or resolution of other symptoms). \u201c<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to check the current CDC guidelines for any updates regarding the disease onset and recovery times since they may change.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>You\u2019ve tested positive but don\u2019t have symptoms<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NCIC position is that you shouldn\u2019t attend any hearing unless <\/span><b>10 days<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have elapsed since the positive test. You should also contact the deputy commissioner.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>You\u2019ve had a known contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid-19<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, you should not enter a courthouse\/courtroom or a building where an NCIC hearing is scheduled \u2013 unless 14 days have lapsed since the date of the known contact. You need to contact the deputy commission by email or telephone as soon as possible \u2013 and await further instructions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>You\u2019ve traveled internationally<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve traveled internationally, the NCIC requires that you shouldn\u2019t attend a hearing at a building or courthouse \u2013 unless 14 days have passed since coming home from the international travel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve traveled abroad, you need to stay away from the courthouse for two weeks. You must also contact the deputy commissioner by email or phone \u2013 as soon as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>Social distancing, hand hygiene, and face coverings<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Social Distancing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everyone in the hearing room must stay at least six feed from everyone else. The deputy commission will limit how many people can be in the room at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hand Hygiene<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everyone in the hearing room \u201cshould wash their hands and\/or use hand sanitizer in a manner consistent with CDC guidelines.\u201d Hands should be washed before entering the hearing room, after using the bathroom, and after touching an \u201chigh-traffic surfaces.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Face Coverings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there is a current order (from the state, a local order or an order from the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court) requiring that a face covering be worn in the county or municipality where the hearing is taking place \u2013 then everyone in the hearing room is required to ware an \u201cappropriate face covering over the mouth and nose in a manner consistent with CDC guidelines, unless an exception applies.\u201d Some exceptions may apply.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there is not a statewide, local, or Supreme Court directive regarding wearing a face covering \u2013 the people in the room are still strongly encouraged to wear an appropriate face covering \u2013 until further notice. Some exceptions may apply.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally, face coverings are not required for children under two years of age. Face coverings are also not required if the person has a \u201cmedical or behavioral condition or if another exception contained in a statewide order, local order and\/or emergency directive or order of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina is applicable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>Exhibits in North Carolina workers\u2019 compensation hearings<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Except for hearings where a worker represents himself\/herself, \u201call stipulated and proposed exhibits shall be <\/span><b>uploaded <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">via the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ic.nc.gov\/docfiling.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electronic Document Filing Portal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled hearing and exchanged with the other party or parties. This requirement shall not apply to proposed exhibits contemplated exclusively for use in potential rebuttal, surrebuttal, or impeachment.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cases where a party appears on his\/her own, the deputy commissioner will determine how the exhibits should be received and whether they are admissible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless the deputy commissioner orders otherwise, all participants at the hearing shall bring their own copies of hearing exhibits (all exhibits exchanged between the parties and submitted to the Commission prior to the hearing).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a paper or electronic copy of an exhibit is required- to question a witness &#8211; the following procedure should be used:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When examining the witness, the questioning attorney should place the paper exhibit (or the electronic device containing the exhibit) on a surface while maintaining a distance of at least six feet from all other individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The witness may then approach the surface to examine or read the paper exhibit or exhibit on the electronic device, while maintaining a distance of at least six feet from all other individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the witness needs to touch the paper exhibit or the electronic device, the witness should use clean gloves to do so or should properly sanitize his or her hands before and after touching the exhibit.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a party is acting pro se (on his\/her own) the presiding Deputy Commissioner will determine how to proceed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><i>Additional requirements<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All participants are expected to follow federal, state, and local guidelines. Participants should take every measure possible to avoid contracting COVID-19 \u2013 including understanding how the disease spreads, washing hands, keeping safe distances, face coverings, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting, and other appropriate steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other Articles and Resources relating to COVID-19 and Workers Compensation in VA and NC:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Video:\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MfI4vzwhMy0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-19 Illness Not Really\u00a0 Covered by Workers Compensation Law<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Video: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2eAj7yWYgv8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s at Least Protect our Frontline Healthcare Workers and Get them Covered by Workers Comp<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Video: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2eAj7yWYgv8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will My Comp Checks Stop if my Employer Lays me Off or Shuts Down?<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/faqs-about-covid-19-and-workers-compensation-in-north-carolina-and-virginia\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequently Asked Questions Re COVID-19 in Relation to Workers Comp<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/some-states-are-making-workers-compensation-benefits-more-accessible-for-first-responders-and-front-line-workers-who-contract-covid-19\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some States are Making Workers Compensation Benefits More Accessible for Victims of COVID-19<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article:\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/health-care-workers-and-workers-compensation-benefits-in-the-age-of-covid-19\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health Care Workers and Comp Benefits in the Age of COVID-19<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article:\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/filing-a-covid-19-workers-compensation-claim-in-north-carolina\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Filing a COVID-19 Workers Comp Claim in North Carolina<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Carolina and Virginia <a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/practice-areas\/workers-compensation\/\">workers\u2019 compensation<\/a> attorney Joe Miller Esq. is taking new workers\u2019 compensation cases and is continuing to represent his current clients. He is keeping current with the North Carolina and Virginia state workers\u2019 compensation rules during the current pandemic.\u00a0 Attorney Joe Miller Esq. helped thousands of injured workers obtain strong recoveries. To speak with an experienced work injury lawyer, call North Carolina and Virginia lawyer Joe Miller, Esq., at <\/span><b>888-667-8295<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. or fill out my online <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/contact-us\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contact form<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to schedule an appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The guidelines for North Carolina Industrial Commission hearings, as of July 2020, are the following: You have COVID-19 symptoms If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should not attend a hearing. You should not enter a courthouse or hearing room. You should contact the deputy commissioner by email or telephone to receive further instructions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[231,13,1],"tags":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Joe Miller","author_link":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/author\/jmiller\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The guidelines for North Carolina Industrial Commission hearings, as of July 2020, are the following: You have COVID-19 symptoms If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should not attend a hearing. You should not enter a courthouse or hearing room. You should contact the deputy commissioner by email or telephone to receive further instructions.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4995"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4995"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4995\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joemillerinjurylaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}