New CDC Isolation Guidance and Employee Leave Considerations The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) new guidance that individuals no longer need to isolate from work for five days following a positive COVID-19 test may raise questions with employers about what leave they are required to provide to employees with the virus. The [...]
On July 12, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued updated guidance on whether and when employers may test their employees for COVID-19. While the previous guidance generally allowed employers to require testing for all employees entering a workplace, the new guidance requires an individualized assessment of current circumstances. Background The Americans with Disabilities [...]
On Thursday, Oct. 7, drug manufacturers Pfizer and BioNTech said they have asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize their COVID-19 vaccine for use in children ages 5-11. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is currently the only vaccine fully approved for adults by the FDA. For children ages 12-15, it is approved under emergency [...]
On Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, President Joe Biden signed executive orders requiring federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Biden also directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to draft a new emergency rule requiring all businesses with 100 or more employees to ensure all of their workers are either tested for [...]
New York City officials and Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced that all Department of Education (DOE) employees in the city are required to provide proof of a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 27. This mandate aligns with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to city officials. It [...]
The widespread availability and administration of COVID-19 vaccines have changed the trajectory of the pandemic in the United States. However, vaccination coverage varies across the United States, and transmission risk remains considerable in areas with low vaccination rates. The emergence of more transmissible variants—including Delta—increases the urgency to expand vaccination coverage and for organizations to [...]
On Thursday, August 12, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a third vaccine dose for immunocompromised individuals—roughly 3% of Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to diseases and their effects. This latest FDA authorization aims to help protect these individuals from [...]
COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic. We’re still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19. After you’ve been fully vaccinated [...]
In a recent report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released findings on maximizing the fit of cloth and medical procedure masks to reduce COVID-19 transmission and exposure. Notably, the research found that double-masking substantially improved source control of COVID-19 and reduced wearer exposure. According to the CDC's report, double-masking refers to fitting [...]
Making COVID-19 vaccination part of your workplace wellness program may offer benefits to you and your employees. To aid in keeping their workplace healthy, employers can consider offering free, on-site COVID-19 vaccinations at work locations. This HR Insights article provides an overview of guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for workplace [...]
