The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) recently issued clarification that the State Public Health Officer Order issued January 9, 2024, remains in effect. Unless extended, it remains in effect through early February 2025.
It specifically relates to isolation for COVID-19 cases.
The infectious period for those with COVID-19 is a minimum of 24 hours from the first day of the onset of symptoms. An employee may return to work if 24 hours have passed and they have had no fevers during that time (without using fever-reducing medicine).
Asymptomatic people with COVID-19 have no infectious period in terms of exclusion or isolation. However, if they do experience symptoms, they must follow the timelines outlined above.
Additionally, the COVID-19 Prevention Regulations outline the following requirements for employers:
- They are responsible for taking measures to prevent transmission and identify potential hazards in the workplace. They must correct any issues with methods like physical distancing, moving tasks outdoors, reducing the density of people working indoors, and allowing remote work.
- They must offer COVID-19 testing at no cost during paid time to all employees in close contact
- They must address COVID-19 as a workplace hazard
- They must report information about severe injuries, deaths, and occupational illnesses (in compliance with existing regulations)
Employees must wear face coverings indoors for 10 days from the onset of symptoms (or first positive COVID-19 test).
Full Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Standards
This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.
