The guidance now aligns with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) isolation recommendations. Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 may end isolation after five days if they are feeling well, symptoms are improving, and they are fever-free for 24 hours. Prior to March 13, 2023, individuals could end isolation after five days if their symptoms were not present or were resolving and a diagnostic specimen collected on Day 5 or later tested negative.
Additionally, under the updated guidance, individuals may remove their mask after ending isolation sooner than the 10 days recommended if they have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Prior to March 13, 2023, infected persons were instructed to wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, regardless of a negative test.
Finally, the “infectious period” is now defined as follows:
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“For symptomatic confirmed cases, 2 days before the confirmed case had any symptoms (symptom onset date is Day 0) through Days 5-10 after symptoms first appeared AND 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved, OR
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For asymptomatic confirmed cases, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date (collection date is Day 0) through Day 5 after positive specimen collection date for their first positive COVID-19 test.”
Because the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations instruct employers to follow the most recent CDPH guidance, California employers should rely on this guidance when employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 must isolate. If you have any questions about the CDPH’s most recent isolation guidance or the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations, please reach out to our California Legal Services team at CAinfo@employerscouncil.org.
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