Members of our labor, employment, and benefits team have been busy providing analysis on continued updates to state COVID-19 rules and standards. We know these resources are valuable to readers of Health Law Scan, and we preview two recent LawFlashes that may be of particular interest to those operating in California and New York below.
Cal/OSHA Reverses Course on COVID-19 Standards; State Public Health and LA County Update Mask Guidance
In another reversal, on June 9 the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Board unanimously voted to withdraw the “Readopted” Emergency Temporary Standards that it had approved just six days earlier, while the California Department of Public Health (DPH) previewed new face mask guidance that aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s face mask guidance and will take effect June 15. In addition, the health department from Los Angeles County—the county with the largest population and with the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the state since the pandemic began—announced that it will adopt the state DPH guidance except that employers must adhere to Cal/OSHA standards.
New York Drops COVID-19 Restrictions as State Reaches 70% Vaccination Goal
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on June 15 that the State of New York reached its goal of 70% of adult New Yorkers receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As anticipated based on prior announcements, Governor Cuomo stated that almost all applicable business operating requirements and guidance from the state no longer were mandatory. However, the state will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and require unvaccinated individuals to continue wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing while indoors.
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