In anticipation of Governor Newsom’s intended June 15th state-wide reopening, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Cal/OSHA have issued new guidance regarding face coverings and rules regarding fully vaccinated individuals. This DDWK Update summarizes the latest guidance from the CDPH and Cal/OSHA.
Effective May 3, 2021:
- For fully vaccinated persons, face coverings are not required outdoors except when attending crowded outdoor events, such as live performances, parades, fairs, festivals, sports events, or other similar settings.
- For unvaccinated persons, face coverings are required outdoors any time physical distancing cannot be maintained, including when attending crowded outdoor events, such as live performances, parades, fairs, festivals, sports events, or other similar settings.
- In indoor settings outside of one’s home, including public transportation, face coverings continue to be required regardless of vaccination status, except as outlined below.
- In the workplace, employers subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), must continue to ensure that all workers are provided and properly wear face coverings. See our previous DDWK Update about the Cal/OSHA ETS here.
CDPH Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People
People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks or more after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or two weeks or more after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).
Fully vaccinated people can:
- Spend time with other fully vaccinated people, including indoors, without wearing masks or physical distancing (outside a workplace setting).
- Spend time with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
- Refrain from wearing face coverings outdoors except when attending crowded outdoor events, such as live performances, parades, fairs, festivals, sports events, or other similar settings.
- Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic.
- Following a known exposure at work, fully vaccinated workers do not need to quarantine if asymptomatic.
- In the workplace, employers subject to the Cal/OSHA ETS must continue ensure that employees are following the current ETS face covering and testing requirements.
The updated guidance brings welcome relief to employers subject to Cal/OSHA ETS. Effective May 5, 2021, Cal/OSHA updated its COVID-19 guidance to confirm that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to be excluded under the COVID-19 ETS. The removal of these individuals from the ETS will lessen the burden on employers. For example, exclusion pay is no longer required for asymptomatic fully vaccinated employees. However, for the time being, employers must continue to require face coverings in the workplace, regardless of vaccination status, although this requirement may change soon, too. Do not hesitate to contact us for assistance with revisions to your business’ COVID-19 related policies and protocols.
