On January 9, 2024, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated its COVID-19 isolation recommendations to move away from 5 days of isolation and instead focus on clinical symptoms to determine when to end isolation. The guidance now states that those who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate until they have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving. If an individual tests positive but has no symptoms there is no recommendation to isolate but should still, follow recommendations regarding masking.

These recommendations are important for the application of the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations which remain in effect until 2025 and incorporate the CDPH’s definitions of infectious period and its guidance for isolation into the regulations.