On March 3, 2023, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced updates to several state public health orders and COVID-19 guidance relating to vaccination, masking, isolation, and quarantine.  The updates to many of the orders and guidance were made in alignment with the CDC Recommendations for Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19. The changes will take effect over the next several weeks, and the most notable changes are to the following order and guidance:

Effective March 13, 2023, the new State Public Health Order, COVID-19 Disease Control & Prevention will be in effect, and this order will address the following:

  • Updated recommendations regarding isolation for persons infected with COVID-19
  • Updated definition of infectious period in alignment with updated recommendations regarding isolation of persons infected with COVID-19
  • Includes definition of confirmed case
  • Removed provisions related to requirements in Mega Events and K-12 Schools and Child Care to reflect that the current guidance for these settings does not include requirements

Effective March 13, 2023, the new Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions on Isolation and Quarantine of the General Public:

  • ​​​​​​​Removes recommendation to test in order to leave isolation before Day 10, if the individual is well with no symptoms, or symptoms are mild or improving and are fever free for 24 hours.
  • After ending isolation, persons may remove their mask sooner than Day 10 with two sequential negative tests one day apart. ​
  • Updates definition of infectious period

Effective April 3, 2023, the new Guidance for the Use of Face Masks : 

  • Removes masking requirements in high-risk settings, including healthcare, long-term care facilities, and in correctional facilities, and homeless, emergency and warming/cooling centers (effective April 3)
  • Allows health care facilities and local health jurisdictions to customize and localize their plans and implementation to recommend or require universal masking based on risk of exposure for high-risk individuals and settings

Public agencies are still subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulations​ and, in some instances, the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard. Cal/OSHA has indicated that they will publish updates to their FAQs to reflect the Isolation and Quarantine guidance changes and the new State Public Health Officer Order that became effective on March 13, 2022. PRISM will continue to monitor the CDPH and Cal/OSHA for changes. For questions regarding CDPH or the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulations, please contact Risk Control.