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CDC Workplace Compliance News & Resources

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) into the forefront of business safety and compliance like never before.

As society moves through and beyond the pandemic, KPA continues to monitor CDC-relevant recommendations and regulations that impact workplace compliance and employee safety.

Stay on top of safety and compliance the right way with this information but be sure to seek legal counsel when you’re looking for how these changes will directly impact your business. Wherever available, KPA products are updated with the latest government notices and posters for employers.

Past CDC Workplace Compliance News

Who: International travelers entering the USA

When: Effective immediately.

What: On June 10, 2022, the CDC announced that international travelers entering the United States are no longer required to provide a negative COVID-19 test upon boarding flights to the United Stats. – The new standard is applicable to all travelers regardless of vaccination status.

The CDC has determined that due to the widespread access of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, the prior testing requirement is no longer necessary to prevent the introduction of currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in the USA. The CDC continues to recommend that all international travelers receive vaccination against COVID-19 and get tested for infections before and after traveling.

How:

Review your current internal travel policies and procedures and update them to comply with the CDC decision.

Additional Resources:

CDC Resources for International Travel

CDC Rescinding Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving Into the United States from Any Foreign Country

Who: All consumers

When: Effective Immediately

What:

Update 2/25/2022: The CDC has announced that those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are no longer required to wear a mask while in public spaces, including schools. Mask-wearing is still recommended for those who live in communities with a high hospitalization rate and for those who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. Those who work in the healthcare industry are still required to wear a mask and must follow the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.

Update 1/28/2022: The CDC has updated the information on masks and respirators, clarifying the difference between N95s and KN95s, surgical N95s respirations, and types of masks and respirator protections.

On January 14, 2022, the CDC updated face mask recommendations for consumers on its website, focusing on fit, protection, and comfort. In a press release statement, the federal agency recommends that people should wear the most protective mask that they can, focusing on how well it fits and the consistency of wearing it.

The CDC Types of Masks and Respirator webpage states that some masks provide better protection than others–“loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection.” People may now choose to wear N95 and KN95 masks, but the CDC clarified that and “surgical N95” masks should be reserved for health care settings.

Next Steps:

Employers may want to review and update their face covering policies and supplies.

Additional Resources

Types of Masks and Respirators

Who: All vaccinated Americans considering a COVID-19 booster shot

When: Effective Immediately

What: On January 4, 2022, the CDC announced a change in its recommendation of the Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot. Originally, the CDC recommended a booster shot be administered  6 months after the second vaccination.  The new recommendation shortens the time period to 5 months. This news came a day after the FDA released a similar recommendation.  On January 7, 2022, the CDC released a statement making the same recommendation for the Moderna COVID-19 booster shot.

The booster shot recommendations for individuals who have received J&J vaccine did not change.

The agency recommended that children who are ages 5-11 years old and are moderately or severely immunocompromised may receive another dose of the vaccine 28 days after their second Pfizer vaccination shot.

Additional Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots

Stay Up-to-Date with Your Vaccines

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Overview and Safety

Who: United States employers and employees

When: Effective immediately

What: On January 10, 2022, the CDC updated its international travel guidance. The CDC also recently updated domestic travel guidance on January 4, 2022.

Per the CDC’s guidance, all international air passengers traveling into the United States, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before their trip. Testing is not required for children under the age of 2. For domestic air travel, those who have not been fully vaccinated are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 within 1 to 3 days before and after their trip.

For the purpose of COVID-19 contact tracing, international air passengers traveling to the United States are required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding their flights.

For domestic and international travel, the CDC recommends that US residents do not travel until they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Travel is not recommended for those who feel sick, have been exposed to COVID-19 and have not ended quarantine, or have tested positive for COVID-19 and have not ended isolation period of 10 days (either after the day the symptoms started or the day of the positive test if asymptomatic).

Regardless of vaccination, face coverings are required for people over the age of 2 for all indoor public transportation and transportation hubs (i.e., airplanes and airports). Air passengers are also encouraged to check the local COVID-19 health recommendations and requirements of their final destination.

After traveling, the CDC recommends that all people self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, get tested, and isolate themselves if they develop symptoms. Those who are not fully vaccinated are recommended to self-quarantine for 5 days after travel.

For air travelers awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, should the results come back positive while at their destination, the CDC recommends isolating and postponing their return until it’s safe. Under these circumstances, travel companions may need to quarantine.

How:

  • Review your current policies and procedures and update them to comply with the current guidance.
  • Educate and inform your employees about interstate COVID-19 mandates and safety protocols.

Additional Resources:

CDC COVID-19 Travel

CDC COVID-19 International Travel

CDC COIVD-19 Domestic Travel

CDC COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination

CDC Operation Expanded Testing Program for Schools and Congregate Settings

Who: People exposed to COVID-19

When: Effective Immediately

What: At the end of 2021, the CDC updated its quarantine and isolation recommendations for anyone exposed to COVID-19 or who received a positive test result.

Anyone who has tested positive for the virus and remains asymptomatic should quarantine for 5 days, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask whenever around other people. People whose symptoms are improving should be fever-free for 24 hours before leaving isolation.

For individuals exposed to someone with COVID-19 and who are unvaccinated, or received their last vaccination over six months ago (over 2 months ago if the individual received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine) and haven’t yet received a booster shot, the CDC recommends a 5-day quarantine following by wearing masks for an additional 5 days. If a 5-day quarantine isn’t an option, the individual must wear a well-fitting mask whenever around others for 10 days.

For people who have received their booster shot or have completed the primary vaccine series within the last 6 months (within the last 2 months if the individual received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine), they don’t need to quarantine or isolate, but should wear a mask for 10 days following exposure.

For anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19, they should take a COVID-19 test on the fifth day after exposure.

Originally, the CDC recommended 10 days of isolation for anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been exposed to the virus.

Health Care Workers

The shortened isolation and quarantine times for everyone exposed to COVID-19 comes on the heels of updated recommendations for health care workers. Weeks prior, in December 2021, the CDC changed its isolation and quarantine guidance for health care workers who test positive for the virus but don’t exhibit any symptoms.

These workers that are infected with COVID-19 but are asymptomatic may return to work after seven days of exposure and a negative COVID-19 test result.

If the health care facility is experiencing a staff shortage, workers who have been exposed, regardless of vaccination status, may return to work after 5 days of a positive infection. In a health care crisis, workers who have tested positive for COVID-19, may return to work if they are asymptomatic or only experiencing mild symptoms, regardless of their vaccination status.

Those who have been infected but are fully vaccinated and boosted may return to work without any restrictions.

How:

  • Although these are recommendations, employers should be aware of state and local rules that may have stricter requirements.
  • Health care administrators will need to review their staffing, labor agreements, census, and current COVID-19-related policies and procedures and update them accordingly, working with legal counsel and other parties as necessary.

Additional Resources

CDC Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period for General Population (Press Release)

What We Know About Quarantine and Isolation

Quarantine and Isolation

Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Past FDA Workplace Compliance News

Who: United States employers and employees

When: Effective immediately

What: On January 31, 2022, the FDA approved Moderna’s vaccine against COVID-19 for people over the age of 18. One week later on February 4, 2022 the CDC approved the Moderna vaccine alongside the FDA.

Moderna’s vaccine is the second to be approved by the FDA following the approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in August of 2021.

Moderna’s vaccine is marketed under the name Spikevax. Spikevax contains the same formulation as the EUA Moderna COVID-19 and is administrated in two doses to be taken one month apart.

As of early 2022, over 200 million doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered throughout the US.

How:

Educate and inform your employees about federal mandates and safety protocols.

Additional Resources:

Spikevax Full Prescribing Information

FDA Spikevax Priority Review

FDA.gov Spikevax Information Page

CDC Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Who: United States employers and employees

When: Effective immediately

What: On December 22, 2021, the FDA approved and issued the emergency use of Pfizer’s Paxlovid, the first antiviral pill to be used to treat patients with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 symptoms. Following approval, Paxlovid will be prescribed to patients 12 years and older who weigh at least 88 pounds within the first five days of experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19.

Once prescribed, Paxlovid is administered as three pills that include nirmatrelvir and ritonavir antiviral drugs that are to be taken twice a day for a period of five days. Pfizer has released data indicating that the Paxlovid treatment cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% for high-risk adults within the first few days of showing symptoms.

Pfizer expects to have millions of doses of Paxlovid available throughout 2022. The federal government signaled a commitment to making Paxlovid treatment free and accessible for all Americans as more doses become available.

Paxlovid is currently not authorized for:

  • Treatment in patients requiring hospitalization due to severe or critical COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 prevention.
  • For use longer than five consecutive days.

 How:

Educate and inform your employees about federal mandates and safety protocols.

Additional Resources:

Paxlovid Emergency Use of Authorization Letter

Frequently Asked Questions on the Emergency Use Authorization for Paxlovid for Treatment of COVID-19

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