What happens if someone on site is diagnosed with Covid-19. Is the site required to shut down for a safety stand down?

Paul,

That is a good question.  There is the health issue and then the legal issues.  I would start by calling my state department of health and any COVID-19 hotlines that are available.  You also need to consult with your state and local safety guidelines for construction.  I assume the guidance would be that if the worker has been in contact with others at the site, that everyone self-quarantine for two weeks.  You can’t reveal who the worker is without that person’s permission.

That said, you may get in trouble with the owner if you don’t have a clause in your contract that allows you to suspend or stop work in the event of a government order or pandemic-related issue.  It is better to be proactive than to end up in a lawsuit because you want to suspend work and the owner wants you to keep going.