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Relaxed Rules on COVID Exclusion Periods

Posted by Giuliana Gabriel, J.D., HR Compliance Director on February 1, 2024

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On January 9, 2024, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) significantly relaxed the rules on COVID exclusion periods, moving away from the 5-day isolation requirement after someone tests positive.

Most COVID-19 workplace rules are found in Cal/OSHA’s Permanent COVID Standard, which went into effect on February 3, 2023, and will remain in effect until February 3, 2025, with record-keeping obligations lasting until February 3, 2026.

However, for certain requirements, such as isolation and quarantine guidelines, Cal/OSHA instructs employers to defer to CDPH or, if applicable, the local health department with jurisdiction over the workplace.

Good News on CDPH’s Changes:

Positive Cases:

  • If someone tests positive but has NO symptoms: they are no longer required to be excluded from the workplace.
  • If someone tests positive and HAS symptoms: they must stay home for a minimum of 24 hours. They can return only if they satisfy the following: (1) they have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication AND (2) other COVID-19 symptoms​ are mild and improving.
  • Mask whether symptomatic or not: Even if someone is allowed to return to the workplace, everyone who tests positive must mask for a minimum of 10 days when around other people indoors. (Day 0 is the symptom onset date or positive test date if they don’t have any symptoms.) They may remove the mask sooner than 10 days if they have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart.

Infectious Period:

The potential infectious period is 2 days before the date of symptoms began or the positive test date (if no symptoms) through Day 10. The infectious period is used for determining who is a close contact.

Infected persons who end isolation in accordance with CDPH guidance (as noted above) are no longer considered to be within their infectious period. This means that, under current guidance, there is no infectious period for asymptomatic employees. The infectious period may vary for symptomatic employees, depending on when they meet the criteria to return to work.

Close Contacts:

  • If someone has COVID-19 symptoms following close contact: they should test and mask immediately.
  • If someone does not have COVID-19 symptoms following close contact: CDPH still encourages testing, and masking around higher-risk individuals.

CEA is Here to Help you!

CEA members have access to our COVID-19 Exposure Tool Kit to help walk you through the required steps, and you may give us a call for further clarification at 800.399.5331