COVID-19 Guidance Update

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance for Quarantine and Isolation periods in response to the ongoing Omicron cases.  This new guidance from CDC reduces the time after contracting or exposure to COVID-19.  The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has just released their updated guidance to conform with CDC, with additional requirements. Listed are the current guidance for quarantine and isolation:

  • Isolation period of infected employee after a positive COVID-19 test regardless of vaccination status, natural immunity or lack of symptoms
    • stay home for five days
    • isolation can end if no symptoms or symptoms improve after five days, and a diagnostic test on day 5 tests negative
    • if unable to test or choose not to test and symptoms are not present or resolving, isolation can end after day 10
    • continue to wear mask around others for a total of 10 days
  • Quarantine period after exposure (close contact) to someone with COVID-19, this will depend on vaccination status
    • unvaccinated employees, have not received booster, or second dose of Moderna/Pfizer more than 6 months ago or single dose of Johnson & Johnson more than 2 months ago
      • stay home for five days
      • test for COVID-19 on day 5
      • quarantine can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present and diagnostic test on day 5 is negative
      • if unable to test or choosing not to test and symptoms are not present, quarantine can end after day 10
      • continue to wear mask around others for a total of 10 days
    • vaccinated employees who have received a booster after a two dose of Moderna/Pfizer more than 6 months ago or single dose of Johnson & Johnson more than 2 months ago
      • wear mask around others for 10 days
      • get a COVID-19 test on day five
      • if symptoms develop, get a test and stay home
  • The definition of boosted or vaccinated but not yet *booster eligible
    • the individual does not need to quarantine
    • test on day 5
    • wear mask around others for 10 days

*Booster eligible definition from CDPH specifies Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech is six months after second dose; Johnson & Johnson is two months after first dose 

Reminder, under the Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) beginning January 14 requires employees to wear face covering and maintain six feet social distance if they are not excluded or return to work.  Currently under the ETS, an asymptomatic fully-vaccinated employees does not need to quarantine as long as they wear a face mask and social distance for given period, however, CDPH now makes a new distinction between boosted and un-boosted.  If an employee is vaccinated and booster eligible but hasn’t received the booster dose, they must stay home for 5 days.

The Association continues to monitor CDPH, Cal/OSHA, CDC and local health departments guidance and will update members on this already complicated situation.