Changes Related to the End of State and Local Emergencies

On March 3, 2023 , the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced updates to several state public health officer orders that have guided Californians on how to best protect themselves and their families throughout the pandemic. CDPH is making the following changes to existing COVID-19 guidance:

• Effective March 13, 2023, CDPH has 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; included definition of confirmed case.

• Removed requirements in Mega Events and K-12 Schools and Child Care

• Effective April 3, 2023 , CDPH no longer requires vaccination for healthcare workers.However, per Federal Guidance for Staff Vaccination Requirements , all Medicare-and Medicaid-certified providers must ensure that all applicable staff are vaccinated with COVID19 primary series. Federal regulations 42 CFR 483.80(d)(3) and 42 CFR 483.460(a)(4)(i) also require that Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) must offer COVID-19 vaccines to residents, clients, and staff onsite when supplies are available to the facility and in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) COVID-19 vaccine schedule, which includes bivalent booster doses.

• Removed masking requirements in high-risk settings though allow healthcare facilities and local health jurisdictions to customize and locals plans and implementation to recommend or require universal masking based on risk of exposure for high-risk individuals and settings. County Public Health Services strongly recommends masking in acute healthcare settings (i.e., hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and longterm care facilities) when engaged in direct patient care. For infor- mation on masking in the general population, please visit the Face Coverings webpage at sandiegocounty.gov.

• Rescinded an order that required hospitals statewide to accept transfer patients from facilities with limited Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity as needed.

• Rescinded an order that required providers to ask patients for their email addresses and/ or mobile phone numbers when receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

• Rescinded the August 5, 2021 State Public Health Officer Order

State and Local Health Officer Orders San Diego County and California public health officials have issued orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• E nd of California’s COVID-19 State of Emergency

The statewide State of Emergency proclaimed on March 4, 2020 is terminated effective February 28, 2023. Any Executive Orders related to the terminated State of Emergency are no longer in effect as of February 28, 2023. Prior Health Officer Orders have been rescinded . Isolation and quarantine actions are in alignment with the CDPH.

SOURCE: SANDIEGOCOUNTY.GOV