California Department of Public Health Updated COVID-19 Guidance

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The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has updated their COVID-19 guidance on vaccines, testing, and treatments. On March 3, 2023, the CDPH announced updates to several state public health officer orders. The updates to the orders are related to vaccination, masking, isolation, and quarantine and will take effect in the coming days and weeks.

Please note that there remains to be vaccines, testing and treatments at low or no cost to everyone.

  1. COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment continue to be available through providers and some pharmacies and at some sites within local communities. Visit MyTurn to find services in your area.
  2. Treatment is available through providers and some pharmacies. Individuals who are uninsured or can’t get timely treatment can call 833-686-5051 or visit sesamecare.com/covidca.

The below are changes that CDPH has made to the existing COVID-19 Guidance:

  1. Masking in High-risk and Health Care Settings
    Beginning April 3, masks will no longer be required in indoor high-risk and health care settings. This includes health care, long-term care, and correctional facilities as well as homeless, emergency, and warming and cooling centers. This change takes effect on Monday, April 3 to allow local health departments and individual health care facilities to develop and implement plans customized to their needs and local conditions to continue to protect Californians through the end of the winter virus season. CDPH’s recommendations for the use of face masks for individuals remain unchanged. See masking guidance.
  2. Vaccine Requirements for Health Care Workers
    Beginning April 3, with federal rules continuing to ensure that most health care workers remain vaccinated for COVID-19, the state will no longer require vaccination for health care workers including those in adult care, direct care, correctional facilities, and detention centers. This change takes effect on Monday, April 3 to allow local health departments and facilities to develop and implement plans customized to their needs and local conditions to continue to protect Californians through the end of the winter virus season.
  3. Reduced Isolation Time after Positive COVID-19 Test
    Beginning March 13, a COVID-19 positive person may end isolation after five days if they feel well, have improving symptom, and are fever-free for 24 hours, with less emphasis on testing negative. This change aligns with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations and takes effect on Monday, March 13, 2023.
  4. Disease Control and Prevention Order
    The state public health officer order formerly known as Beyond the Blueprint is being updated to align with CDPH’s isolation and quarantine recommendations above and includes an updated definition for a confirmed COVID-19 case. The updated order, which will take effect March 13, provides prevention and mitigation strategies for slowing the spread of COVID-19 in homes, workplaces, and communities.
  5. Vaccine Data Collection
    Also, being rescinded on April 3 is an order that required providers to ask patients for their email addresses and/or mobile phone numbers when receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. New legislation requires that California healthcare providers who administer vaccines to enter information about patients, including telephone numbers and race and ethnicity.

With the end of the State of Emergency and the new guidance issued by CDPH related to COVID, the federal government continues to require a higher standard for skilled nursing, medical facilities, etc. ACRC has followed every guidance issued by the state to date and will continue to operate under that practice. That stated, we encourage staff to continue vaccination protocols in an effort to promote health and wellness in the workspace. Vaccinations are no longer required but remain recommended.