Cal/OSHA updates COVID-19 workplace guidance
JUNE 7, 2021
As the state prepares to reopen fully next week, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials discussed the continued importance of mask mandates.
Cal/OSHA, the state’s workplace safety agency, refined the COVID-19 requirements, relaxing physical distancing requirements for California’s workforce, though continuing to require masks for workers if any non-vaccinated people are present.
While Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning to ease restrictions starting June 15, Cal/OSHA ultimately has control regarding workplace regulations.
Cal/OSHA’s regulations for face coverings are set to require all workers be masked, regardless of vaccination status, except when alone or when all persons in a room are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic. Outdoors, all asymptomatic workers who are 6 feet or more away from others can be unmasked, regardless of vaccination status, except at events with more than 10,000 attendees.
Physical distancing is no longer required by Cal/OSHA if employers provide respirators, such as N-95 masks, to all their unvaccinated employees.
Public Health officials continue to urge unvaccinated residents to wear a mask in shared spaces and while around others, consider wearing a respirator instead of a regular cloth mask when in high-risk situations, avoid crowds, physically distance, wash hands often and keep visits outdoors, when possible.
Public Health is set to host a town hall to discuss reopening guidance 6 p.m. on Thursday via livestream.
Public Health officials also released the following updated COVID-19 statistics Monday:
New COVID-19 cases reported in L.A. County in the past 24 hours: 134
Total COVID-19 cases in L.A. County: 1,245,253
New deaths related to COVID-19 reported: 3
Total COVID-19 deaths in L.A. County: 24,392
Hospitalizations countywide: 255
Hospitalizations at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital as of May 26: 0, with 1,239 discharged since the onset of the pandemic.
COVID-19 cases reported in the Santa Clarita Valley in the past 24 hours: 8, 7 of which came from the city of Santa Clarita.
Total COVID-19 cases in the SCV: 27,932
Total COVID-19 deaths in the SCV as of June 6: 304
Percentage of vaccinated people (at least one dose) in the city of Santa Clarita as of May 28: 64.8%
Percentage of vaccinated people (at least one dose) in the SCV as of May 28: 61.8%
Source: https://signalscv.com/2021/06/cal-osha-updates-covid-19-workplace-guidance/
Writer: Emily Alvarenga