COVID Information

For the ease of visitors to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), all information, notices, and announcements concerning the CAVC's response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be listed on this page.

Since March 2022, CAVC personnel have been working in a mix of remote and on-site presence, according to their telework schedules. The Court conducts oral arguments in-person (judges and counsel all present), virtually (judges and counsel all remotely), or in a hybrid environment where judges and counsel have the option of appearing in person or remotely. Oral arguments can be viewed via the CAVC's YouTube channel, which can be accessed by using the following link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkhT0OvwPHFaX-d0ZEFup0g.

Over the past several months, both the CDC and The President's Safer Workplace Task Force have published new implementation guidance related to the Government's new approach to counter COVID-19. Based on this information, the Court is adopting the following changes to its Workplace Safety Plan:

Mask-wearing:

  • Regardless of vaccination status, Court personnel, visitors, and onsite contractors (both Court contractors and outside vendor/contractors) are not required to wear a mask, although they enjoy the option of doing so, in the Court itself (floors 6, 9, 10, and 11, and the 2nd floor library) while the DC's COVID-19 Community Level is LOW or MEDIUM. However, when the DC's COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH, all individuals must wear a high-quality mask (such as N95) indoors.
Court Screening Testing Program / Vaccination Status:
  • To be consistent with the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance, the Court will not ask Court personnel, onsite contractors, and visitors to provide information about their COVID-19 vaccination status, regardless of COVID-19 Community Levels.
  • All individuals should continue to monitor the CDC's COVID-19 County Tracker to determine the current COVID-19 community level for the District of Columbia. Please use this link to visit the CDC's COVID-19 Community Level webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html.
625 Indiana Ave Common Areas:
  • To be consistent with the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance, the building's Facility Security Committee (FSC) has directed building security to not ask visitors and onsite contractors to provide information about their COVID-19 vaccination status, regardless of COVID-19 Community Levels.
When the DC COVID-19 Community Level is LOW and MEDIUM -
  • Mask-wearing is optional in the building's common areas.
When the DC COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH -
  • Mask-wearing is required in the building's common areas regardless of vaccination status.
What to Do if You Were Exposed to COVID-19
  • If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, per the CDC, you should take the following steps regardless of your vaccination status:
    • Start precautions immediately - wear a mask and continue to wear the mask for 10 full days.
    • Watch for symptoms and, if you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested.
    • Even if you don't develop symptoms, you should get tested at least 5 full days after your exposure.
  • For additional information, please visit the CDC's website at What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19 | CDC.
What to Do if You Have Contracted COVID-19
  • Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19.
  • Ending isolation
    • End isolation based on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were.
    • If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
    • If you had no symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.
    • If you had symptoms and your symptoms are improving, you may end isolation after day 5 IF you are fever free for 24 hours.
    • If your symptoms are not improving, continue to isolate until you are fever-free for 24 hours (without use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving.
      • Start precautions immediately - wear a mask and continue to wear the mask for 10 full days.
      • Watch for symptoms and, if you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested.
      • Even if you don't develop symptoms, you should get tested at least 5 full days after your exposure.
    • For additional information, please visit the CDC's website at Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 | CDC.
    Individuals who wish to visit the Court should review the precautions above and call ahead to make sure staff they wish to see will be available on-site. Questions concerning this information can be sent to the USCAVC COVID-19 Coordination Team.

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