On January 9, 2024, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated its COVID-19 isolation recommendations to move away from 5 days of isolation and instead focus on clinical symptoms to determine when to end isolation. The guidance now states that those who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate until they have not had a
CDPH
CDPH Updates Definition of COVID-19 Outbreak
By Sean Paisan on
Posted in CalOSHA
While the California COVID-19 State of Emergency was lifted several months ago, one holdover of the COVID-19 pandemic is the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations (NER), which remain in effect until February 2025.
Under the NER, employers have various obligations to ensure employees are protected in the workplace. Under these regulations, employers have additional…
CDPH to End COVID-19 Vaccination and Masking Mandates for Healthcare Workers
By Michelle K. Meek & Stephanie A. Kierig on
Posted in California
The COVID-19 State of Emergency for California ended on February 28, 2023. In its wake, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced impending updates to its remaining COVID-19 mandates, including those applicable to healthcare workers.
On March 3, 2023, the CDPH announced it would end vaccination requirements for healthcare workers, including those in…
Cal/OSHA Clarifies COVID-19 Close Contact Definition
By Sean Paisan on
Posted in CalOSHA
In early June 2022, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an order revising the definition of “close contact.” Under the CDPH order, close contact was defined as “someone sharing the same indoor airspace (e.g. home, clinic waiting room, airplane, etc.) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.”…
California Changes Mask Guidance for Public Settings and Workplaces
By Sean Paisan & Stephanie A. Kierig on
Posted in Workplace Safety
The same week that California’s third round of COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave went into effect, the Governor released the state’s strategy for the endemic phase of COVID-19.
Aligning with the new endemic strategy, on February 28, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued revised guidance regarding masks. Effective March 1, 2022,…
Cal/OSHA and CDPH Issue Clarifying Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine Requirements
By Sean Paisan & Sierra Vierra on
Posted in CalOSHA
At the end of the year, California’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued updated guidance regarding Isolation and Quarantine, which applied to workplaces per the Governor’s prior Executive Order. The timing of this guidance was rather awkward, as the Cal/OSHA Standards Board had recently approved changes to the Cal/OSHA ETS set to go into effect…
California Extends Indoor Masking Requirements & Los Angeles County Mandates Medical-Grade Masks for Workplaces
By Sayaka Karitani & Jacklin Rad on
Posted in Workplace Safety
In mid-December, as COVID-19 cases began to rise, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reinstituted indoor masking requirements and Cal/OSHA confirmed that requirements applied in the workplace. When issued, the mandate was only supposed to remain in effect until January 15, 2022.
However, with COVID-19 cases still on an uptick, the CDPH has…
Cal/OSHA Finally Publishes Public Notice to Follow CDPH Guidance
By Sean Paisan on
Posted in CalOSHA
On December 16, 2021, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board adopted the third version of the Cal/OSHA ETS with new exclusion and return to work requirements for COVID-19 cases and close contacts.
On December 30, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued new guidance for Isolation and Quarantine for the General Public. This new…
Clarification for Masks in the Workplace from CDPH and Cal/OSHA
By Sean Paisan on
Posted in Workplace Safety
Less than 24 hours after the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) new mask mandate went into effect, the CDPH updated its guidance to clarify the application of the mandate. Previously, the mandate by the CDPH referenced “indoor public settings” without further definition. In the updated guidance, the CDPH clarifies that “the guidance applies to…
Update on Face Coverings in California
By Conor J. Dale & Benjamin A. Tulis on
Posted in California
In June, California relaxed many of its COVID-19 restrictions, including allowing fully vaccinated individuals to go without a face covering indoors, with limited exception. Also in June, Cal/OSHA passed an amended Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) that allowed for fully vaccinated employees to go without a face covering in most situations.
However, as California…