COVID-19 Guidance and Reporting
Covid-19 (corona virus) guidance and reporting is subject to Federal, State, County and City health directives and is constantly changing as health experts learn more about the virus and its variants. This section is reviewed and updated as needed to comply with the latest information and regulations; therefore, check back regularly.
The following is a summary of the most pertinent guidance and definitions as of March 12, 2025.
Definitions
"Close Contact" means either sharing the same indoor airspace with an infected person, if that indoor airspace is less than 400,000 cubic feet, or being within six feet of an infected person if the indoor space exceeds 400,000 cubic feet, with or without a mask, during the infected person's high risk exposure period for 15 minutes of more over the course of 24 hours. This standard applies to all locations.
"COVID-19 test" in the employment setting means a test for SARS-CoV-2 that is:
(A) Cleared, approved, or authorized, including in an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect current infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (e.g., a viral test);
(B) Administered in accordance with the authorized instructions; and
(C) Not both self-administered and self-read unless observed by the employer or an authorized telehealth proctor, or is otherwise verified, such as a photo of the test results that is time and date stamped. Tests approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or have an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA to diagnose current infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus may be used. These include both PCR and antigen tests. The test must be administered in accordance with the FDA approval or FDA EUA, as applicable.
"Exposed Group" This definition differs between the workplace and the school settings. In the workplace, it means all employees (including contractors and volunteers) at a work location, working area, or a common area at work, where a COVID-19 case was present during his/her high risk or infectious period. A place where persons momentarily pass through while everyone is wearing a face covering, without congregating, is not a work location, working area or common area. In the school setting, an exposed group includes any group of students who spent more than a cumulative total of 15 minutes (within a 24 hour time period) in a shared indoor airspace (e.g. a classroom) with a COVID-19 case during his or her high risk or infectious period. Please note that which the school setting standard applies to students, but the workplace setting applies to school staff.
"Face covering" means a surgical mask, a medical procedure mask, a respirator mask (N95 or similar) or a mask made of tightly woven fabric or non-woven material of at least two layers. A face covering does not include a scarf, ski mask, balaclava, bandana, turtleneck, collar, or single layer of fabric.
"Fully Vaccinated" means the person can document receipt that the person received, at least 14 days earlier, of either a second dose in a two dose COVID-19 vaccine series or a single dose COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines must be FDA emergency approved or be listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization.
"Up to Date" means a fully vaccinated person has received a booster vaccination or is not yet booster eligible.
"Infectious Period" means:
For individuals who develop symptoms of COVID-19, the infectious period begins 2 days before they first develop symptoms. The infectious period ends when at least 24 hours have passed since symptoms first appeared, and at least 24 hours have passed with no fever (without use of fever-reducing medications), and symptoms are mild or have improved.
For individuals who test positive but never develop symptoms, there is no infectious period.
"Respirator Mask" means a respiratory protection device approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to protect the wearer from particulate matter, such as an N95 mask
"Worksite", for the limited purposes of COVID-19 prevention regulations only, means the building, store, facility, agricultural field, or other location where a COVID-19 case was present during the high-risk exposure period. It does not apply to buildings, floors or other locations of the employer that a COVID-19 case did not enter. This definition is not the same as the definition of a worksite for general Cal-OSHA purposes.
Governing Law and Recent Changes
Locations are governed by Federal, State, Cal OSHA, and local regulations of COVID-19 matters. General guidance and health orders for each can be found here:
Locations are required to comply with all City and County Health Department Orders, State of California Health Department Orders and, for employees, all Cal OSHA regulations. All locations must follow ADLA protocols and procedures. At this time all reporting ruquirements have been rescinded, except for Cal-OSHA requirments described below.
Cal-OSHA Requirements
Locations where employees are regularly assigned to work (work site) are governed by the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 3205. This includes all buildings, offices, schools, rectories, convents, cemeteries, mortuaries, and churches
With the exception of California Code of Regulations subsection 3205(j), the COVID-19 Prevention regulations (8 CCR sections 3205, 3205.1, 3205.2, and 3205.3) expired on February 3, 2025. This means that, as of February 3, 2025, there is no longer a specific set of regulatory requirements relating to COVID-19 prevention in the workplace. Employers will still be required to maintain a safe and healthful place of employment as required by Labor Code section 6400, and must establish, implement, and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) as required by Title 8, California Code of Regulations, section 3203. If an employer identifies COVID-19 as a workplace hazard at their place of employment, then the employer must identify, evaluate, and correct any unsafe or unhealthy conditions, work practices, or work procedures that are associated with COVID-19.
CCR Subsection 3205(j), which deals with reporting and recordkeeping, remains in effect until February 3, 2026. It requires that the employer keep a record of and track all COVID-19 cases with the employee's name, contact information, occupation, location where the employee worked, the date of the last day at the workplace, and the date of the positive COVID-19 test and/or COVID-19 diagnosis. These records must be retained for two years beyond the period in which the record is necessary to meet the requirements of this section. It also requires that information on COVID-19 cases be provided to the local health department with jurisdiction over the workplace, CDPH, the Division, and NIOSH immediately upon request, and when required by law. Therefore, please continue to use and submit the COVID-19 Report Form for employees who contract COVID-19 to ensure that you have recorded and retained all the pertinant information required by CCR 3205(j).
Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters have proven to be an effective protection against COVID-19 serious illness and death.
For guidance on the Church's and Archdiocesan position on COVID-19 vaccines go to Covid-19 Information | LA Catholics (scroll down on the screen).
Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and two weeks after the single shot of the J&J vaccine.
Locations that wish to host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic must use the Outside User Agreement for COVID-19 Vaccine Site. Locations that wish to hire a COVID-19 vendor to test at the location must use the Outside User Agreement for Blood Drive/Flu Shot Clinic/Health Services/Wellness Program.
Additional Reporting for the Worksite
If an employee is hospitalized or dies due to COVID-19, Cal-OSHA must be notified within 8 hours from the time the location learns of the hospitalization or death, just as the employer would report to Cal OSHA for any other work related serious injury, illness or death. Contact Human Resources for assistance with Cal OSHA reporting.
Additional Guidance for Schools
California regulations for schools can be found here: CDPH and Safe Schools For All Hub.
Schools in Los Angeles County must comply with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health COVID-19 and Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) Guidelines for Educational Settings.
Schools in the
City of Pasadena must use the
COVID-19 Line List Template (the spreadsheet may open at the bottom of a computer screen) to report.
Schools in the
County of Santa Barbara must report
outbreaks.
Schools in Ventura County should report outbreaks to the COVID reporting portal here: SPOT
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