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After months of CHA and hospitals inquiring about the requirement to test unvaccinated workers, on Sept. 13, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that it is ending COVID-19 policies that required weekly testing for unvaccinated individuals in high-risk workplaces — including hospitals, other health care and congregate settings, and schools. While weekly testing requirements are ending, CDPH is encouraging employers to continue providing testing resources for their staff.
In the previous health order requiring weekly testing, CDPH intended to stem COVID-19 infection in high-risk settings such as hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities due to the higher risk associated with infections of unvaccinated persons. With the changing data and science regarding COVID-19, CDPH concluded that mandating testing of unvaccinated individuals is no longer effective at preventing disease transmission.
As a reminder, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires hospitals to implement a policy to ensure that unvaccinated staff adhere to precautions intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.