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California Department of Public Health on September 17 A covid-19 test has ended his duty. For unvaccinated healthcare workers and other individuals in high-risk areas including dental offices.
Unvaccinated dentists and their staff are in full compliance with the state’s public health order requiring vaccination or weekly testing beginning August 23, 2021. Dental professionals who do not provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination are required to be screened weekly and provide symptoms. A negative test for their employers.
Dentist employers had tracking and documentation obligations as part of state mandates. CDA members have used resources during this time to assist with their compliance, including the CDA Self-Verification of Employee Immunization Status, a weekly checkup tracking form for employees, and forms to request and record immunization exemptions.
Other high-risk health care settings that are not subject to the weekly or bi-weekly testing requirement include doctor’s offices, general acute hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, acute psychiatric facilities, and homeless shelters.
Despite the state order being lifted, some cities and counties continue to mandate weekly Covid-19 testing. Employers must follow strict mandates, whether federal, state or local, and check with their local health department to ensure compliance.
Vaccination coverage ‘higher among high-risk workers’
of Government press release In announcing the July 21, 2021 cutoff, the public health order points to high vaccination rates among high-risk workers. CDA own survey In the May-June 2021 survey, 94 percent of California dentists were vaccinated against Covid-19.
The heterogeneity of the Omicron subtypes—primarily, increasing transmission rates even among vaccinated, wealthy, and previously infected individuals—also influenced CDPH’s decision to rescind vaccination or testing orders.
“Mandatory testing of a small number of unvaccinated workers is not effective in preventing the spread of disease like the original COVID-19 virus and earlier outbreaks,” the CDPH said. “Therefore, while Covid-19 remains with us, I am rescinding the order of the state public health officer effective September 17, 2022,” the state public health officer wrote.
Employers are encouraged to continue vaccinations and screenings.
As the weekly testing requirements end, CDPH encourages employers to continue providing testing resources to their employees to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community, noting that “vaccination and testing are two key measures to help curb the spread of COVID-19, along with mask wearing and improved indoor ventilation.”
Dentists can continue to use resources. CDA Immunization Confidence Toolkit In their practice to conduct rapid tests, manage their staff and discuss vaccine safety and efficacy with their patients. Just last week, with the help of CDPH, CDA published new informational materials, vaccination talking points, sample social media posts and other resources for use in dental offices.
Additionally, dentists and other employers in California can still require their employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Member dentists can use CDAs. Sample Immunization Policy, It includes guidance and issues for employers, including the circumstances under which employees may be exempt from compliance.
Masking, screening, and reporting requirements will continue in dental offices.
Dentists and their staff, as well as patients and visitors to dental offices and other health care facilities in California, must continue to wear face masks, and employers must provide properly fitted respirators to workers involved in airborne manufacturing processes. Cal/OSHA requires the use of respirators during such procedures in both dental and medical settings.
Dental offices must continue to screen patients for COVID-19 as required by Cal/OSHA.
It has a CDA. Questions about mask and filter requirements And an article with detailed information on how to proceed Reporting and return to work requirements Under the current Cal/OSHA Covid-19 hazard interim standards that expire on December 31st.
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