3.8.23
By Molly Wood, SPHR, MAOL Senior HR Consultant 
While we are all TOTALLY OVER COVID-19, sadly it’s not totally over with us. This time last year we thought everyone who was going to get it, got it. Then people started getting their second round! Fortunately, the symptoms are not putting people in the hospital at record rates as we had seen previously. As a result, the California Department of Public Health is easing up isolation requirements effective March 13, 2023.
Beginning March 13, a COVID-19 positive person may end isolation after five days if they feel well, have improving symptoms, and are fever-free for 24 hours, with less emphasis on testing negative.
As of today, Infectious Period is defined as:
- For symptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the infected person had any symptoms through Day 10 after symptoms first appeared (or through Days 5–10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later), and 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved, OR
- For asymptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date through Day 10 after positive specimen collection date (or through Days 5–10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later) after specimen collection date for their first positive COVID-19 test.
Workplace cases still need to be communicated to people who may have been exposed to an employee who tests positive for COVID. A general notice of the day that the positive COVID case was in the workplace and the areas they frequented will suffice. Employers should also provide testing to exposed employees. If you don’t have tests at the worksite, then the time taken by employees to get tested should be compensated.
Employers should understand that while the CDPH seems to be less fearful of COVID contagion, your employees may not be. It’s important to remind employees not to come in when they are sick, and to consider remote working options where possible.
SDEA HR Consultants are here for our members’ questions, COVID related or otherwise.
We are not just here for you, we are HeRe with you. 858-505-0024